Surface surveillance systems using point sensors and segment-based tracking

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the use of inductive loop technology (LOT) as an alternative, non-cooperative, surface surveillance sensor. Over the last two years, our team has developed a prototype surveillance system at Long Beach Airport (LGB) in California that combines loop sensors with a new approach to vehicle tracking we call "segment-based tracking". The nature of loop sensor information differs from that of other familiar sensor systems in that it is "point" based. For a given fixed location, the sensors are relied upon to provide simple occupied or not-occupied status.