Applications considerations:

Introduction

This section provides insight into how AMD can be applied for a variety of use cases and the possibilities it brings to aviation. The use of AMD is shown in with real world scenarios to emphasize the benefits of digitalisation. The main stakeholders which will benefit from using AMD are the aerodromes, ANSPs and airlines.

Driving factors

The ambition to support digitalisation initiatives at global, regional or local level is high. In Europe this is driven by the Digital European Sky and the SES European ATM Master Plan. All the initiatives are envisaging a digital transformation of the European air transport system based on advancements in automation, virtualization, integration, standardization and interoperability.

SWIM-enabled applications

System Wide Information Management (SWIM) plays an important role in the digitalisation of air transport. Information exchange models such as AIXM, AMXM, FIXM and WXXM provide syntax and semantics which are key elements of data exchange interoperability. Sharing AMD based on SWIM creates opportunities for aerodrome stakeholders and users. The use of SWIM-enabled applications leads to more efficiency and improved collaborative workflows. From the application perspective SWIM is an enabler to be taken into account during implementation. Whilst the use of information exchange models is an important aspect, ultimately, following SWIM, the complete digital transformation emerges through the deployment of information services. Read on about SWIM in the Implementation chapter.

Aerodrome

Within aerodromes there is a potential for service orientation and data sharing based on SWIM, especially in those cases where applications constitute automation islands leading to separate data management and lack of interoperability. The introduction of SWIM and the use of information exchange models such as AIXM and AMXM will lead to improvement of information services and SWIM-enabled applications.

Ground Lighting Information Management

Ground Lighting System Management: sharing information about the ground light system. The picture shows a detailed visualisation of ground lighting.

Movement Surface Limitations

Movement Area Management: sharing information about the movement area. The picture shows an example of closed aircraft stands due to reconstruction in the depicted work area.

Surface Contamination Management: sharing information about surface contamination. The picture shows a runway surface contamination.

Common Situational Awareness: the picture visualizes Vaclav Havel Prague International Airport (LKPR) using AMD.

Use cases:

ANSP

ANSPs need aerodrome information in support of the services they provide. Digitization and sharing of AMD between Aerodromes and ANSPs will lead to efficiency and quality gains of the air navigation services and will contribute to ANSP service provision.

Digital NOTAM: dynamic updates of aeronautical information. The picture shows an example of an information update resulting in closed taxiways due to resurfacing. D-NOTAM introduces a standardized digital representation of the information based on AMD leading to improved information sharing and situational awareness, especially in complex cases such as represented here.

A-SMGCS ATRiCS TowerPad®: displaying AMD data in an operational system

Use cases:

D-NOTAM
Remote tower
Remote tower systems use different layers of visualization to highlight movement areas, buildings, etc. for air traffic controllers. AMD can be used to create and periodically update those digital maps increasing effectivity and decreasing costs therefore less human interaction is needed.
A-SMGCS
A-SMGCS systems use digital maps within their datasets for visualisation purposes. Importing AMD removes the need for manual creation of digital maps
Information Management System
IMS display aeronautical information to air traffic controllers. AMD allows transformation from displaying eAIP or PDF AIP to digital aeronautical data.
Aeronautical charts, Procedure design
AMD enables data driven aeronautical chart production and supports procedure design activities.
U-Space
AMD data can be used to create more accurate restricted zones for geofencing around aerodromes.

Airlines

Use of digital AMD and related applications will continue to increase with the outlook of improved aircraft connectivity. Both aerodrome operators and airlines will increase their usage of SWIM information services. AMD plays an important role in those applications that provide visual support to pilots under the form of digital charts and cockpit displays.

The User Interface shown in the picture lists multiple D-NOTAM (LKPR airport) on a timeline as well as their geographical representation on the map. This approach increases situational awareness and replaces classic textual NOTAMs and AIPs during pre-flight briefings as well as in-flight information updates.

The picture shows VerticalPolygonal/Line/PointStructure (ED-99) mapped to the AIXM 5.1 as VerticalStructure, which can be also part of the obstacle data set. These vertical structures can be visualised on the map of an aerodrome. Airline engineering and operations departments may import and export obstacle data for use in their applications.

Use cases:

Digital Integrated Briefing
AMD in combination with other digital aeronautical datasets will be used to display information in a more interactive way decreasing the crew workload. By presenting the data in a user friendly way it also increases situational awareness.
Safety Nets
Multiple systems are used to monitor aircraft for hazardous conditions. AMD can augment positioning information which results in increase of safety. The native use of AMD decreases the likelihood of human induced error due to data manipulation.
Electronic Flight Bag
AMD plays an enabling role in supporting the functions of the Electronic Flight Bag used by pilots.

Collaborative information sharing and decision making

Collaborative information sharing is essential for decision making involving multiple actors. These actors use their dedicated applications to perform intended functions. Sharing standardized AMD through SWIM information services facilitates collaboration.

Several new technologies benefit and rely on AMD. Automatic taxi with time and path information on the ground, collaborative decision making during emergencies, de-icing operations and infrastructure availability information are examples that involve multiple actors including the aircraft crew.

Fictitious case:

The fictitious case describes one of the examples how interactions occur in a sequence and how information is shared between the actors involved.

An aircraft landed on runway L12 and received an instruction from the tower to vacate the runway via one of the exits.
The tower issued a clearance based on a situational overview provided by an A-SMGCS display which shows closures and limitations on the movement area together with surveillance data.
The pilot executes the taxi route instructions and reports an oil slick. The pilot is then instructed to stop.
The taxi route is updated avoiding the taxiway which has been closed instantly via controllers interface. The ground crew was informed about a stand change for the mentioned flight.

All collaborative operations were carried out using the data shared through SWIM, this included A-SMGCS consuming AMD as a SWIM information service. Cockpit displays could overlay dynamic information received. D-NOTAMS are published based on the same AMD information.

The picture addresses which points were crucial and how interoperable data exchange plays role in the increasing situational awareness.

Note: The area of contamination and its publishing may be slower in real life.

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