Overview and flight-by-flight analysis of trajectory prediction systems using a 2D Galaxy Visualization

A new graphic visualization tool, Trajectory Galaxy Visualization (TrajGalaxyViz) has been developed that significantly enhances analysts´ ability to determine the accuracy of flight trajectory predictions, i.e. the anticipated route of an aircraft. The partnership between the Federal Aviation Administration´s Conflict Probe Assessment Team (CPAT) and the Software Engineering, Graphics, and Visualization (SEGV) research group at Rowan University has enabled the development of TrajGalaxyViz. TrajGalaxyViz is a system developed in Java that enables CPAT to measure the accuracy of flight trajectory prediction methods as well as perform comparisons of different flight trajectory methodologies. This paper explores the development and implementation of TrajGalaxyViz as well as its integration with a previously developed system, Trajectory Graphical User Interface (TrajGUI). TrajGalaxyViz greatly improves the ability to analyze the voluminous amount of data generated by the evaluation of a new air traffic control system.