My next project - 3D flight path viewing using Google Earth

[sejo]

Since "Bones" has taken on the UK airspace project (and made such a great job of it too!) I've been able to divert some spare time to some other projects for SBS-1.

I've been playing around with Google Earth and have written a little script that will convert the data in basestation logs into a format used by GE to display the aircraft tracks in 3D. In conjunction with some 3D UK airspace outlines (full credit to the guy that developed these) I found in the GE forum's, the results are quite interesting.








Obviously this really a bit of fun, rather than anything serious, but might be of interest to some folk. It might also be useful to show the range of returns you are getting (see picture 2), when trying to fine tune antenna positions which I know many of you are doing (I must get my external aerial fitted sometime!).

It is also possible to "fly" along the tracks that are displayed, although rather annoyingly the current version of GE does not follow the altitude, but rather makes up its own height above the ground contours. However, its still quite impressive when you following a flight in or out of an airport.

I'm just in the process of tidying up the data conversion script, and will release it here shortly along with instructions if anyone is interested?

I'm just getting to grips with the possibilities of the GE markup language (.kml) but hopefully in conjunction with another little applet I have been working on to extract data from basestation in real time (used to be easy with the original version, but in the latest release the log file is locked so other methods are required), it might well be possible to get output from the SBS displayed in real time into Google Earth, and even be able to see a "pilots eye view" of the flight taking place.

Cheers,
Sean

PS Here is another plot from a log file taken a little while ago on the 27/07/2005 from 21:50 to 28/07/2005 08:15 with 309 aircraft tracks.

The holding stacks for Heathrow and the approach paths into Stansted can easily be made out. Its quite amazing (then again I guess it isn't!) to see all the tracks inside the controlled airspace and airways apart from a few taking some shortcuts!

I can also see I have a dead spot which means half the stack at Biggin is chopped off...I think it is next door's chimney!

[Sholto]

Well Sean, what more can I say - this is awesome!!

I envy your computer literacy and just wish that I had both the SBS and your knowledge.

Located where I am in south Manchester I am rather surrounded by trees to the east and south and so doubt that I would manage to get the same results.....one day maybe (says he dreamily).

Congratulations in any case.

Sholto

[sejo]

Thanks for that. I've just posted the script and instructions in a seperate thread so everyone can have a go and see what they get.

Maybe people can show some of their own results here too. I must say, I think mu coverage looks quite good just using the magmount aerial on a baking tray up in the loft (very old house, so no insulation up there!)

I'll let you know if/when I get the realtime version going

Cheers,
Sean

[bones]

The last hour up here produced this:



Fascinating to tilt down and see the vertical profile as well..

The FAA built a 3D radar back in the late 1960's but in testing it proved unworkable.

[KineticWill]

Well Sean, what more can I say - this is awesome!!

I envy your computer literacy and just wish that I had both the SBS and your knowledge.

Well I'm the guy who wrote the BaseStation software and I'm sitting here with my mouth hanging open in amazement (and shouting out to our web guy Ger in the next office, "You gotta come have a look at this!").

Awesome. Absolutely awesome.

[sejo]

If only I was a "real" programmer...I just do a bit of scripting from time to time as part of working with infrastructure. You guys did all the hard work, but thanks for the compliment anyhow.

I've got it working in "real time" now as well....see http://www.kineticavionics.co.uk/forums ... .php?t=447

I'll be able to show you more on Thurs

Cheers,
Sean

[DaveReid]

Thanks for that. I've just posted the script and instructions in a seperate thread so everyone can have a go and see what they get.

Maybe people can show some of their own results here too. I must say, I think mu coverage looks quite good just using the magmount aerial on a baking tray up in the loft (very old house, so no insulation up there!)

I'll let you know if/when I get the realtime version going

Cheers,
Sean

Hi Sean

I thought you might be interested to know, if you don't already, that your Google Earth plots feature prominently on the sardif.com website in their SBS-1 advert:

http://www.sardif.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1948

I''d ask them for a royalty

Dave

[bones]

Heh, heh. They've got my screenshot too.

I WANT MY 0.0001% ROYALTY!

Well spotted Dave.

[sejo]

Fame at last

The auto translation using Google is quite funny to read...particularly how the power requirements have been translated into food

http://www.google.com/translate?u=http% ... en&ie=UTF8

Sean

[langelot]

In French the word "alimentation" means food . The verb "alimenter" means to food someone or... something with food or ...anything else. Therefore we generally say "alimentation" to speak of the power supply swith or plug, or more commonly of what sort of current is needed (AC or DC). Here the electricity is the food.
-Q: Sur (or Avec) quelle alimentation fonctionne le SBS-1?
-A: 220 Volt avec un adaptateur fourni, ou par un cable USB relié à l'ordinateur.
Best regards

[sejo]

I suppose when you put it like that, it makes sense as phrases like "power feed" are sometimes used in English too!

Cheers,
Sean

[langelot]

Exactly.
I'm going to feed my bed right now, good night.
L