Exploring spatial patterns of overflights at Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Gurung B, Peterson BA, Beeco JA , Anderson SJ, Joyce D. 2023. Exploring spatial patterns of overflights at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Report. NPS/LAKE/NRR—2023/2489. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2294919
This study explored spatial patterns of overflights at Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LAKE). Overflights were analyzed from August 16th, 2020 to September 30th, 2021 using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and radar data from L3Harris. The first phase of analysis focused on all overflights and found a high concentration of overflights above LAKE. The second phase of analysis focused on low-level overflights that fly below 8,500ft mean sea level (MSL) and displays figures for low-level fixed wing single engine, fixed wing multi engine, and rotorcraft. The phase 2 results show different flight patterns across aircraft types. The third phase of analysis removed all overflights known to not be air tours. Kernel density analysis was conducted using waypoints segmented into 500ft above ground level (AGL) altitude intervals, which showed that the density of overflights varied by altitude interval and the 4,000-4,500ft AGL range had the highest density of overflights above LAKE. This altitude interval also had the highest number of waypoints. This information can be used for planning and management purposes and this study serves as a resource for future research that intends to use more advanced analytics.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Gurung, Bijan; Peterson, Brian; Beeco, J.; Anderson, Sharolyn; Joyce, Damon
- Date of Issue
- 2023-01
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2294919
- Units
- LAKE , NRSS , NSNSD
- Keywords
- ADS-B, air tours, aircraft tracking, overflights, spatial analysis