3d control of obstacles in airport location studies

Abstract

While looking for a potential site of a new airport, meteorological and environmental analyses, as well as navigational analyses, are all of the ultimate importance. Potential airport location failing to pass any of these three checks is considered absolutely inappropriate for further airport development. Especially in mountainous regions, navigational analyses are concentrated on the control of obstacles which is synonym for the analyses of Obstacle Limitation Surfaces. Obstacle Limitation Surfaces are imaginary surfaces defining the volume of airspace in the vicinity of the airport that should ideally be kept free from obstacles so as to provide for safe aircraft operations either during an entirely visual approach or during the visual segment of an instrument approach. Also, establishment of such a protected volume of airspace prevents the uncontrolled growth of manmade obstacles in the vicinity of the airport. The paper presents contemporary 3D techniques of orienting the runway so as to minimize the extent of protrusions through the Obstacle Limitation Surfaces. These techniques are based on the triangulated 3D model of terrain surface and on the models of Obstacle Limitation Surfaces. The techniques in concern are demonstrated on an airport located in the mountainous Balkan region.