Integrity and Continuity for Automated Surface Conflict-Detection Monitoring

This paper discusses how surface surveillance technologies impact the design of automated conflict-detection capability for a next-generation air transportation system dubbed NextGen. In NextGen, automated conflict detection and resolution (CD&R) algorithms will be necessary to assist air traffic controllers in identifying and mitigating potential hazards posed by nonconforming aircraft. Given this high reliance on automation, rigorous specifications for conflict detection (CD) algorithm continuity and integrity risk will be required. Continuity risk refers to the probability that a CD alert interrupts an ongoing operation; integrity risk refers to the probability that the CD algorithm fails to provide an alert rapidly enough to resolve the conflict. The continuity and integrity of CD algorithms strongly depend on the quality of surface surveillance sensor measurements; as such, we propose mechanisms for modifying the CD&R algorithm design to rigorously account for the capabilities and limitations of surveillance sensors.