NextGen for Airports, Volume 4: Leveraging NextGen Spatial Data to Benefit Airports: Guidebook (2016)

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4 | LEVERAGING NEXTGEN SPATIAL DATA TO BENEFIT AIRPORTS Introduction1 NextGen consists of many different programs with multiple priorities and requirements. A multi-tude of inputs and outputs within these programs allow them to operate efficiently. The focus of ACRP Project 09-12 is on spatial data as an input and/or output of specific elements within NextGen. Spatial data comes in a variety of formats, and at various levels of accuracy, completeness, and currency. Over the past few decades, many airports have implemented one such format, GIS, to meet a spectrum of needs. In recent years, the FAA has developed additional requirements for airports to collect geospatial data sufficient for meeting myriad needs such as instrument approach procedure design, construction as-built surveys, NAVAIDs installation/relocation, master plans and airport layout plans (ALPs), and airfield configuration changes. As the FAA moves toward employing more advanced solutions for airspace and airfield safety, opera- tional efficiency, and situational awareness under NextGen, there is an increasing need for high quality, current, and accurate spatial data depicting both airports and the airspace around airports. The nexus of these spatial data requirements is the focus of this research. It is important for airport managers and staff to know how the data they are developing and/or are required to develop benefits NextGen, as well as how the spatial data required by NextGen can both directly or indirectly benefit the airport. This guidebook and its supporting materials describe the spatial data requirements of certain NextGen programs and identify which data the FAA requires airports to collect, maintain, organize, and provide in support of NextGen. Some NextGen programs use additional spatial data sets that are not directly needed by airports. Although airports may not benefit directly from these data sets, they reap consid- erable indirect benefits through the application of such spatial data within NextGen programs. Research Goals and Objectives This guidebook is part of a larger NextGen ACRP research project series that provides general informa- tion while also detailing additional information about specific subject areas under NextGen. Other projects in this series include: • ACRP Project 01-27, NextGen—A Primer; • ACRP Project 01-28, NextGen—Guidance for Engaging Airport Stakeholders; • ACRP Project 03-33, NextGen—Airport Planning and Development; and • ACRP Project 03-34, NextGen—Understanding the Airport’s Role in Performance-Based Navigation. A presentation file accompanies this guidebook. Created to assist interested parties in presenting the information contained in the guidebook at conferences, workshops, and other educational or industry- related events, the presentation file can be downloaded from the ACRP Report 150, Volume 4, webpage at www.trb.org. The presentation follows the outline of the guidebook’s content and provides both

Introduction | 5 text and graphics. A sample abstract (provided in Appendix D) can be adapted and used to aid in requests for presenting the materials at these forums. The research conducted under ACRP Project 09-12 revealed that airports and airport sponsors have a need for additional information about the requirements of NextGen, how these requirements impact them, and how spatial data either obtained from or provided to the FAA in support of NextGen pro- grams can benefit them. The educational presentation can help stakeholders who are unfamiliar with NextGen requirements better understand how the creation and application of this spatial data also benefits them. Focus of This Guidebook Although NextGen affects the entire national airspace system (NAS), not all programs within NextGen need spatial data, produce spatial data, or directly benefit airports. For example, some priorities and programs benefit the operation of aircraft flying between airports, provide for enhanced navigational capabilities en route, or otherwise involve technologies or programs only indirectly connected with air- ports. This guidebook examines and elaborates on how spatial data produced by an airport is used in certain NextGen programs and, conversely, how spatial data that a NextGen program might produce can benefit an airport. This research focuses on airport property and those areas directly surrounding an airport to the extent of the airspace protection surfaces (Figure 1-1). These are the areas where, most notably, airports develop spatial data or need spatial data to support their everyday operational requirements. For example, airports are responsible for ensuring that objects affecting navigable airspace are identified, removed, and/or mitigated according to certain standard requirements. The identification of these Figure 1-1. Project geographic focus as shown on an Obstruction Identification Surface Map (Woolpert, Inc.).

6 | LEVERAGING NEXTGEN SPATIAL DATA TO BENEFIT AIRPORTS objects is a spatial data exercise, and the data produced is submitted to the FAA. Ultimately the data may be used in the development of new flight procedures or in the review of existing procedures for that airport. Spatial data also supports certain NextGen initiatives that result in direct benefits to the airport. For example, performance-based navigation (PBN) provides airports tremendous benefits in terms of lowered costs and greater efficiencies in relation to the airport’s approach and departure procedures. In addition to the direct benefits to the airport, everyone from air carriers to passengers benefits from these efficiencies—which all start with having high quality, accurate spatial data. Lacking accurate spa- tial data developed by the airport, however, the creation of a PBN procedure would not be possible. Although most of the areas where objects have an impact on navigable airspace are off airport prop- erty, it is still the airport’s responsibility to ensure that those areas are protected or mitigated. NextGen Progress and Plans Discussed in This Guidebook Overall, NextGen is a very complex and multi-tiered program. Aligning specific initiatives to correlat- ing programs can prove challenging. Overlap occurs across programs, and, more importantly, key ele- ments of an initiative can be worked on under multiple programs. To better organize the spatial data requirements and benefits directly related to NextGen programs, this guidebook aligns with the four focus areas of the RTCA NextGen Implementation Working Group (NIWG); these focus areas represent the consensus programmatic focus of the FAA deputy administrator, chief operating officer (COO), and the director of the FAA’s NextGen office. The four focus areas shown in Figure 1-2 are being implemented in segments at targeted locations throughout the NAS. According to the FAA, these programs are producing useful and measurable benefits to the industry. MRO, PBN, and surface operations and data sharing all need—or produce— spatial data. Data communications does not need or produce spatial data in any direct or indirect way, so it is the only NextGen program of the four that is not considered in this guidebook. To keep information clear throughout the guidebook, MRO, PBN, surface operations, and data sharing will be addressed consistently in the same order across chapters and sections. For additional details on specific NextGen programs, refer to ACRP Report 150: NextGen for Airports, Volume 3: Resources for Airports. One finding of the research conducted in ACRP Project 09-12 is that some NextGen initiatives, such as PBN and terminal automation modernization and replacement (TAMR), clearly benefit from or produce spatial data. Other initiatives, such as en route automation modernization (ERAM) and NAS voice, have very little need for spatial data and do not generate spatial data of the types examined in this study. Still other programs, such as automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) and data communications, have a limited need for spatial data that is mostly utilized for en route applications. Significantly, although some issues have arisen with the establishment of PBN, the overall benefits of PBN to airports and air carriers are unquestioned.

Introduction | 7 Guidebook Structure and Content Overview Airports and certain NextGen programs can benefit from spatial data that is readily available, current, and accurate. Airport staff and NextGen stakeholders who (1) are involved in the business opera- tions of an airport are involved in the planning and delivery of spatial data, or (2) have the ability to support NextGen in some capacity, are encouraged to familiarize themselves with all chapters of this guidebook. These chapters include: • Summary—Provides an overview of the ACRP NextGen series as well as this project and the find- ings of the research. • Chapter 1—Introduces ACRP Project 09-12, its goals and areas of focus, and describes the structure of the remainder of the guidebook. • Chapter 2—Describes and documents the different types of spatial data that NextGen programs utilize or produce, including Airports GIS (AGIS), and the ways NextGen programs use spatial data. This chapter also discusses those NextGen programs that in some way enhance existing spatial data. • Chapter 3—Explains how spatial data benefits airports and how airports can further benefit from the application of spatial data within NextGen initiatives. The chapter describes specific NextGen initiatives and means of applying spatial data. It also elaborates on NextGen initiatives that are not currently benefitting from data created by the airport but have the potential to do so. Figure 1-2. NextGen programs (FAA).

8 | LEVERAGING NEXTGEN SPATIAL DATA TO BENEFIT AIRPORTS • Chapter 4—Provides information about financial and legal considerations associated with develop- ing and communicating spatial data for airports. This chapter reviews the potential for airports to recoup some of the costs of creating spatial data through the monetization of that data. It docu- ments regulatory requirements and potential liability issues related to the use of spatial data in certain circumstances. • Chapter 5—Presents the researchers’ conclusions and suggestions for additional research and followup through educational forums. Areas with potential for improvement in programs having direct impacts on NextGen and programs that benefit airports are addressed. • Chapter 6—Offers guidance to help airports submit and use spatial data required by the FAA spe- cifically for NextGen. • References and Bibliography—Combines source material referenced in chapter copy with material consulted during the literature review for ACRP Project 09-12. Note: Because of the nature of the content in Chapter 4, endnotes have been used in that chapter. • Appendices—Provide a list of acronyms and initialisms; a glossary of terms; information about the interviews conducted and case studies developed as part of the research; an abstract for use when proposing an educational session about NextGen, spatial data, and airports; and the contents of the companion sample presentation that is available for download from the guidebook website.