1. Obstruction Surveys and Airport Airspace Analysis
Bob Vander Meer
Director of Aviation Programs

2. Obstruction Surveys and Airport Airspace Analysis
This presentation will detail the project considerations learned through producing airspace analysis under the new AC150/ a, 17b & 18b Airport GIS requirements.
Project Scoping Considerations discussed will include:
What detail of mapping is required for your project
The use of temporary vs. permanent geodetic control
Imagery resolution (flying heights)
Data collection, analysis, submittal and acceptance
GIS Data Attribution, Identify Features and Attributes
Timeline from NTP to NGS data acceptance
Challenges and lessons learned

3. Multiple Parties are Needed to Make Projects a Success
Airport Sponsor
FAA/NGS
Airport Consultants
Program Managers
Various Subconsultants

4. Planning to Assure Appropriate Mapping
LPV Approach
Update to Master Plan
Update toward new eALP
Base Mapping for New Construction
Obstruction Survey for Runway Extension
Table 2-1 in AC18B, “Survey Requirements Matrix” will help define required information

5. Planning to Assure Appropriate Mapping
EXAMPLE

6. Planning to Assure Final Deliverables
What are the airports current needs?
What are the airports future needs? 5 year? 10 year?
What are the FAA’s minimum expectations?
What are the final deliverables for the consultant & the airport
All the items affect the project design.

7. Planning to Ensure the Airports Needs are Met Now & for Future Purposes
Sponsors must consider project requirements:
Minimum of 1’ pixel resolution quality required
Higher accuracy is typically necessary
Does your project require topography?
1’ Contours
2’ Contours
Does your project need engineering quality planimetric mapping?
Imagery limits for obstruction analysis may not cover other project parameters
The answers to these questions impact the whole project

8. Impacts of Design The Design Criteria May Impact: Multiple Flights
Leaf on for obstructions
Possibly leaf off for specific mapping needs
Ground Survey
High accuracy data requires significantly more survey control points
Detailed runway profiles
Detailed planimetrics may require survey field checks
Orthophotos
1’ color orthophotos will be required for the obstruction surfaces
.5’ or .25’ orthos may be generated for airport property
All decisions will have an impact on cost and schedule

9. What is the Process? Develop a Project Scope
Work with consultants to ensure both the AIRPORTS, FAA, & NGS’s needs are met
Sponsor (Airport) Must Create a Project on the AGIS Website
Consultant Must Submit a Statement of Work (SOW)
The language in the SOW must support the project scope submitted by sponsor
Consultant Must Submit the 3 Plans
The plans MUST support the SOW
Field Work to be Completed
Acquire aerial imagery
Acquire field survey
Sponsor to provide existing data that maybe required
Submit Scanned Imagery & Survey to NGS for Review
Generate Final Mapping & Submit to FAA & NGS for Review
Mapping & attribution of required features

10. Overview of FAA’s Website

11. Data Upload Process Airport Sponsor or Consultant Roles
Create Log In for Airport Project on the FAA GIS/TPSS Systems
Allows for Project Tracking by FAA, Sponsor & Consultants
All Data must be uploaded through System
Data remains on system to allow future use of existing data
Federal Aviation
Administration

12. Airport GIS Website – Project Portal

13. What is the Purpose of SOW & Plans?
The Statement of Work Sets Up the Plot of the Story
SOW explains WHAT you are going to do
FAA is requiring more detail to be added to SOW
The Plans Expand on the “What” and Explain the “How”
Explains in further detail what you are going to do
Explains your methodologies in detail
Advisory Circular Requirements
What are the AC requirements for your particular project?
How do your methodologies ensure required accuracies?
Together, Project Plans Tell the Story From Beginning to End
Provides background and purpose
Provides a timeline
Provides a work plan
Defends methodologies and ties to Advisory Circulars

14. Overview of Plans
AC-150/ A - Geodetic Control Plan
Required when establishing new PACS/SACS
Details methodology for establishing PACS/SACS
AC-150/ B – Imagery Plan
Submission/Approval required before acquisition
Acquisition report if deviating from imagery plan
Details methodology for imagery acquisition and use
AC-150/ B - Survey/Quality Control Plan
Required for any survey project initiated thru AGIS
Submission/Approval required before project commencement
Details methodology for data acquisition and quality control
Outlines GIS data attribution and features collected
All Plans must be submitted to the FAA through the FAA GIS/TPSS Website

15. Sample Project Process
Sample process from the point that a Statement of Work has been uploaded, through project upload
What happens & when?
How long will the process take?

16. Submission of Statement of Work
Provides Project Scope
Outlines Project Deliverables
Project Plans Overview
Must Submit SOW to the FAA through the FAA AGIS Website
Project Time Frames
Creation: weeks
FAA Approval: 2-4 weeks (FAA workload dependant)

17. FAA’s AC 150/5300-16A Requirements (Survey Plan)
Establishment of Geodetic Control and Submission to the National Geodetic Survey
Develop Project Survey Plan, upload to FAA’s GIS
Decisions on use of PAC’s/SAC’s or Temporary Control
Final Survey Deliverables and Report to NGS
Project Time Frames
Creation: weeks
NGS Approval: Weeks
(NGS workload dependent)

18. FAA’s AC 150/5300-17B Requirements (Imagery Plan)
Airport Imagery Acquisition and Submission to the National Geodetic Survey
Vertically or Non Vertically Guided Surfaces
Imagery purpose
Flight lines, exposure counts, control point layout, photo scales, etc.
Overview of processing and quality assurance procedures
Project Time Frames
Creation: weeks
NGS Approval: Weeks

19. FAA’s AC 150/5300-18B Requirements (Survey Work & Quality Control Plan)
Provide Detailed Methodologies for
Data Collection
Data Safeguarding
Data Quality Assurance
Describes combined use of field and aerial methods
Defines Features and Attribution Required
Covers Field Verification & QC
Project Time Frames
Creation: weeks
FAA Approval: 2-6 weeks
(Workload Dependent)

20. NGS Review of Imagery and Survey Data
Acquire Imagery and Survey Control Data
Completed Aerial Imagery and Survey Data Submission
Imagery Approval
Consultants must provide scanned imagery on portable media for NGS review and acceptance
Completed Aero-Triangulation Report
Survey Control Approval
Completed Survey Report
Project Time Frames
Creation: weeks
Conditional Approval: 30 Days (NGS workload dependent)

21. FAA’s AC 150/5300-18B Data Submission
Airport Obstruction Survey Completion and Submission to FAA/NGS
Consultant must provide the following:
Complete Photogrammetric Mapping
Complete Field Survey including Runway Profiles & Nav Aid Surveys
Complete Field Verification of all survey data
Submit completed survey to FAA’s GIS Website for Approval
Project Time Frames
Photogrammetric Mapping…………………. 2-4 weeks
Field Survey and Obstruction Verification… 2 weeks
Final database formatting and
Submission of Final Survey………………….. 2 weeks
NGS Approval: Days (NGS workload dependant)

22. Schedule – After Notice to Proceed
8 WEEKS
4 WEEKS

23. Lessons Learned Project Scope & SOW Plans Submission Division of Work
This is a project between, FAA, NGS, sponsor & consultants
Communication is key
Scope of Work should provide specific project goals
FAA is requesting more & more detail in both the SOW and the project plans
Project plans are your road map to success
Sooner is better than later
Get your imagery plans in early for fall flight season
Plans could take several months to get approved
Plan ahead
Clear division of work between consultants is essential
Translation and validation of existing data if appropriate
Attribution of data is a huge cost, who is doing it?
Who will assure data is properly formatted for upload?

24. QUESTIONS