DEMETER: Conventional Infrastructure Assessment and Optimization
With PBN moving tracks away from navigation facilities to where they are operationally needed, an assessment needs to be made if the current facilities provide sufficient coverage to enable RNAV based on DME/DME positioning. DEMETER models facility coverage using a terrain database and assesses how RNAV functions can be supported. Specific features help determine where navigation aids can be rationalised (VOR) and where new facilities may be needed (DME).
Distance Measuring Equipment Tracer is a software tool which supports the implementation of Performance Based Navigation (PBN) and the optimisation and rationalisation of navigation infrastructure.
The tool enables simplified collaboration between airspace planners, procedure designers, navaids engineers and flight inspectors for establishing DME/DME positioning as a continuous ground-based back-up solution to the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
DEMETER is designed to assess the space performance of DME/DME signal in en route and TMA airspace. It can also be used to determine the ground infrastructure needed to support Area Navigation applications, like RNAV 1 (P-RNAV) in these phases of flight. This is done in accordance with EUROCONTROL’s guidelines on P-RNAV infrastructure assessment (EUROCONTROL-GUID-0114) as developed in cooperation with the ICAO Navigation Systems Panel (NSP) and endorsed by the Performance Based Navigation Study Group (PBN). The software tool also supports the assessment of VOR/DME coverage and redundancy in support of RNAV 5 (B-RNAV) applications.
DEMETER is currently used by Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) organisations in most ECAC (European Civil Aviation Conference) member states as well as globally by other organisations providing flight inspection or procedure design services, research institutes and universities.
SESAR projects have used DEMETER for the ECAC-wide assessment of the ground navigation infrastructure to evaluate the rationalisation potential and identifying optimisation solutions.
Main Features
Latest version
The latest version of DEMETER (v2.2.0), released in April 2016, introduced a number of bug fixes and improvements such as:
Access
EUROCONTROL stakeholders may obtain DEMETER and its associated technical documentation free of charge.
As DEMETER works globally, other interested parties area may also request the software. The support provided by EUROCONTROL in this case may be limited and users might need to import their own navigation aids data.
Access can be requested by clicking here or by contacting the DEMETER team.
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