Military and Civilian Air Traffic Management Information Exchange and Visualization

This proposal outlines a comprehensive plan to apply the emerging technology of augmented reality (AR) to facilitate a reduction in runway incursions by supporting more natural and direct perception of airport traffic identification, status, and movement patterns. The proposed system will provide civilian and military air traffic controllers with the capability to rapidly and easily integrate information from various existing traffic monitoring systems into a unified, augmented live video interface. The proposal describes the methodology for designing, building, and testing a prototype Augmented Reality Air Traffic control Tower Application (ARATTA) system and interface in a simulated tower environment utilizing experienced ATCT specialists. AR can electronically overlay the real environment with virtual information. To the user, this information appears to exist in the same three-dimensional space as the real world objects it identifies and highlights. This capability has the potential to greatly simplify the controller’s most challenging tasks. The proposing organization, Information in Place, Inc., is uniquely qualified to perform this project because of its strengths in augmented reality software development, human factors engineering, and aviation subject matter expertise.