Block occupancy based surface surveillance

The proposed surface surveillance concept divides airport runways and taxiways into a number of operationally suitable, discrete, and contiguous sections called blocks. The system uses magnetometers or other suitable sensors positioned at each of the block boundaries to monitor aircraft and vehicle movements into and out of these blocks. The system then indicates the block occupancy information for tower controllers on a two-dimensional (2-D) display of an airport map. This surveillance information is envisioned to improve controller situational awareness of surface operations, particularly in reduced visibility.