Exploring spatial patterns of overflights at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Peterson BA, Hutchinson JS, Gurung B, Beeco JA , Joyce D. 2024. Exploring spatial patterns of overflights at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Science Report. NPS/SR—2024/114. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2303507
This study explored spatial patterns of overflights at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (HAVO). Overflights were analyzed from: 1) December 28th, 2020–May 20th, 2021; 2) August 30th, 2021–September 8th, 2021; and 3) January 7th, 2022–April 14th, 2023 (617 total days; 50 days of missing data) using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data. Phase 1 of analysis focused on all overflights and found a high concentration of overflights above HAVO and definitive travel patterns across the east side of the park. Phase 2 of analysis focused on low-level overflights that fly below 15,000ft mean sea level (MSL) and fly within 10 miles of the HAVO boundary and found that above 6,000ft MSL, the number of waypoints decreases as altitude increases. Also, as altitude increases, the directionality of waypoints trends toward the northeast. Phase 3 of analysis removed all overflights that were civil patrol flights, major airlines, and survey flights. The remaining flights were low-level overflights, including air tours. Kernel density analysis was conducted using waypoints segmented into 500ft above ground level (AGL) altitude intervals. The altitude interval with the highest density of overflights was ‘1,501–2,000ft AGL’. 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
- Peterson, Brian; Hutchinson, J. M.; Gurung, Bijan; Beeco, J.; Joyce, Damon
- Date of Issue
- 2024-05
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2303507
- Units
- HAVO , NRSS , NSNSD
- Keywords
- ADS-B, Air tours, Aircraft, Overflights