Digital video map

Abstract

The word 'RADAR' was derived from the word 'Radio Detection and Ranging'. As the phrase implies the Radar System must be able to detect targets and also from the display obtained, the controller would be able to find the range of the target with respect to some reference point. The work of the controller can be facilitated if useful information such as boundaries, reporting point positions and markers can be inserted on the Radar screen. This information will enable the controller to give the exact range readings and discriminate between friendly and enemy aircrafts. Information relating to the position of runways should also be present on the screen. Hence, when weather conditions are bad and the visibility is low, the controller will still be able to land the aircraft on the correct runway. All this information is found in an information map referred to as the Video Map. The Radar System installed at Luqa Airport is one of the oldest systems found in Europe. It dates back to the 1950's. Although it is about thirty-six years old it is very reliable and it has never developed any major faults. So it is very inexpensive to maintain. The only drawback it has is in the display of the Video Map. Since the system was developed in the 50's it makes use of analogue techniques because digital systems were still in the initial stages at that time. The Video Map in the MKV display installed at Luqa ls generated by using a special kind of photographic plate. Nowadays the production of these plates has ceased. Besides, various alterations have been made to the Airport in these last fifteen years such as the extension of a runway and the building of a new runway. The Video Maps available at Luqa do not show these alterations so new ones had to be manufactured. But as I have said before, these plates are not being produced any more and so the Video Map technique had to be discarded. Nowadays, modern Radar Systems make use of digital techniques. The Video Map in these systems is also produced by using a digital technique. This project is aimed to produce a Video Map for the approach radar 1 (AR 1) system installed at Luqa Airport, using a digital technique and which could then be interfaced to be used in the present Analogue system. This technique would not be very expensive to implement and also would make use of the Video map facility which has not been in use for some years.