Quadrant launched to provide low cost airport surveillance

A new low cost air traffic surveillance system has been launched by QinetiQ, Europe's largest science and technology company. Called Quadrant, the system will bring operational benefits to medium and small sized airports. Seen for the first time at ATC Maastricht 2005 Quadrant will provide highly accurate aircraft movement pictures at much lower cost than conventional radar systems.

The Quadrant concept is possible because of the move towards the universal use of Mode S equipment in both civil and military aircraft. Based on a low cost passive Mode S receiver Quadrant offers both local area and wide area surveillance and combines two surveillance techniques - multilateration and Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B). By combining these two techniques Quadrant is able to deliver high levels of surveillance integrity.

Welcoming the launch of Quadrant, Julian Rose of QinetiQ's Airspace Defence and Control business group said: "Expensive radar has priced many smaller airports and airfields out of the air traffic surveillance market. Quadrant provides an affordable and highly scaleable option and will undoubtedly allow operators to improve their situational awareness and, in turn, improve their airfield efficiency.

"QinetiQ has pioneered the concept of high integrity surveillance through the combination of multilateration and ADS-B. This unique approach is only possible because of our 70 years' work in this area. This enables QinetiQ to offer truly world-leading CNS and ATM expertise and capability."

For local area surveillance Quadrant uses multiple sensors located around the airfield to provide a position fix on any Mode S target. This is achieved by multilateration, a well established principle using the time difference of arrival of a signal at multiple receivers in order to accurately compute position.

Wide area surveillance with over 200 miles range is also achievable with a Quadrant sensor. Multilateration surveillance is provided by connecting four or more sensors, combined with ADS-B position reports from individual aircraft. This combination of techniques has been developed to provide increased levels of integrity. The Quadrant system will provide a low cost surveillance capability to ATC services as well as a valuable logistics tool to airlines that need to locate every aircraft in their fleet at any one time.

Quadrant will be demonstrated at ATC Maastricht 2005 using QinetiQ's GlobalEyes 4D visualisation tool. Unique in its class, GlobalEyes can display information either statically or live via real data feeds, all with pin-point accuracy. Previously recorded data can also be reanimated. The infinite zoom feature allows operators to visualise any area from the whole world down to individual aircraft wheel nuts.

QinetiQ has been involved in the development of radar and surveillance systems for nearly 70 years. Its Air Traffic Management group has worked in the wider Communications, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) domain for more than 30 years, applying its expertise in CNS as well as ATM concepts, airport safety and operations and civil/military interoperability for the benefit of a wide range of customers.