Communicating Noise Conditions in Real Time

San Diego International Airport

The problem

San Diego’s noise office wanted to launch a Web-delivered application like PASSUR AirportMonitor, which allows residents to log on to view airspace conditions and replay flight events if they have noise concerns or complaints. But the airport knew that residents also want to know why certain events or conditions were taking place, and were not prepared to launch this type of service unless they could address that requirement, despite public demand that the airport provide it.

The solution: AirportMonitor “Collaborative” Module

The airport was the launch customer for the new version of AirportMonitor, which allows the airport to communicate to residents in real time about conditions which may be affecting their noise level and quality.

AirportMonitor provides an interactive display of air traffic and flight information in and around the terminal airspace, designed for airport Web sites. It enables residents to view traffic in “near-live” and replay mode, with a host of user-friendly online tools designed to promote airspace education, answer questions about specific flight behavior, and promote openness and trust between residents and the airport.

The new version of AirportMonitor includes:

• Instant airport messaging: Based on the existing collaborative decision making technology developed for PASSUR Portal™ and OPSnet™, this allows the airport to instantly communicate about airspace conditions which may be affecting residents’ noise quality. Management of these messages is easily done through PASSUR online password access messaging tools, requiring no Airport IT involvement.
• “My Home Locator”: Providing AirportMonitor users the ability to pinpoint their home on the AirportMonitor background map by entering their address, allowing for a more effective assessment of airspace and flight activity in relation to the user’s residence.
  

The results

The airport has successfully communicated proactively with its residents on a wide range of topics using the AirportMonitor platform, including information about real-time events affecting noise quality. The feedback at community meetings and from the media has been positive, and the program has resulted in significantly fewer noise complaint calls to the noise office.