A Study on Enhancing Airport Tower Operation Systems by Digitalization

The Remote Tower / Digital Tower (RT/DT) system required the development of three main supporting systems: Panoramic view & PTZ camera, Target tracking by both visual tracking and surveillance sensor tracking and Augmented Reality vision & integrated HMI. We developed prototypes of our tracking system, panoramic camera system and the Augmented Reality vision as an RT test system.

We have installed a preliminary testbed with a tracking system, panoramic camera system and Augmented Reality vision at ENRI's Sendai Airport branch.

ENRI has been assigned a research role to develop future RT/DT systems that provide the operator with a panoramic view of the aerodrome remotely, resembling the view from an actual control tower and that support operator work from a safety perspective.

ENRI is researching future Remote Digital Tower technologies with a panoramic remote view, target tracking information and more ergonomic and efficient interfaces based on various state-of-the-art technologies such as computer vision, surveillance sensors, IoT and so on.

Local Remote Airport: Optical Communication Network

Fixed camera(Optical, IR)

PTZ camera(Optical, IR)

Surveillance sensors(MLAT)

Weather Information(METAR, etc.)

Radio Communication

Remote Tower Operation Center

Panorama display(including AR vision)

Flight information Panel

Surveillance sensor(MLAT) information panel

Weather information panel

Communication control

PTZ camera control