Volpe Center: Volpe Center Highlights

Information Resources

Volpe Center Highlights - Fall 2004

Mobility

Continued Refinement of Congestion Management Tool (FAA)

The FAA's Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) Program is a government-industry partnership that aims to improve information sharing and collaboration among the airlines, other users, and the FAA's air traffic management and control organization. The general aviation industry recently joined CDM.

Among the many challenges facing U.S. aviation, one of the most important is enhancing the efficiency of air-traffic flow while maintaining safety. Accordingly, the Volpe Center supports the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in addressing the integration of new technologies and techniques that enable more effective responses to changing conditions, such as flight delays and weather. The Enhanced Traffic Management System (ETMS) -- a decision-support tool and automation system developed and operated by the Center for the FAA -- integrates real-time flight and weather data from multiple sources, presenting information graphically in a highly adaptable format. Traffic managers throughout the country use ETMS to track, anticipate, and manage the flow of air traffic throughout U.S. airspace, and ETMS supports the FAA's Collaborative Decision Making program, which enables collaborative and more effective airspace management (see sidebar).

Since introducing ETMS in 1988, Volpe's ETMS team continues to refine the system to meet evolving user needs and to incorporate emerging technologies. Recent innovations include improved weather-information sharing, the inclusion of business aviation users, and expanded international capabilities.

In fall 2004, new functionality was added to ETMS to support FAA's planned implementation of Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) in January 2005. RVSM technology will permit reduction of aircraft vertical separations from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet and thereby increase airspace capacity. ETMS will flag non-RVSM equipped aircraft so air traffic managers can provide those flights with special attention. Other recent innovations include improved weather-information sharing, the inclusion of business aviation users, and expanded international capabilities.

St. Lawrence Seaway Buoy Positioning System Upgraded (SLSDC)

In 2002, on behalf of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC), the Volpe Center implemented a vessel communications and tracking network based on the latest Automatic Identification System (AIS) technology. The Center provides technical support to SLSDC in maintaining full operational status of its AIS network, which promises improved safety, security, and efficiency throughout the Seaway. Project tasks include optimizing the AIS network and providing support to resolve operational issues. The Center also provides training to Seaway technical staff for configurations, operation, and maintenance of AIS network control software.

In August 2004, the existing buoy positioning system on Seaway tugs was upgraded with state-of-the-art electronics and chart-display software to provide all-weather navigation and buoy-placement capabilities. As part of system deployment, the Center installed and integrated vessel-tracking transponders and Differential Global Positioning System navigation receivers on Seaway workboats, and provided training in system operations. The Volpe team includes Mr. Kam Chin, Mr. David Phinney, Mr. Daniel Nim, and Mr. Henry Wychorski of the Technology Applications and Deployment Division.

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