Exploring spatial patterns of overflights at Glacier National Park
Peterson BA, Hutchinson J, Gurung B, Olstad T , Beeco A . 2025. Exploring spatial patterns of overflights at Glacier National Park. Science Report. NPS/SR—2025/259. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2309483
This study explored spatial patterns of overflights at Glacier National Park (GLAC). Data were collected at Apgar Mountain. Overflights were analyzed from September 1st, 2021–September 19th, 2024 (1,115 total days; 37 days of missing data) using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data. Phase 1 of the analysis focused on all overflights and found concentrations of overflights above GLAC. Phase 2 of analysis focused on low-level overflights that flew between 3,000 and 12,000 feet above mean sea level (MSL) and flew within 10 miles of the GLAC boundary finding that the majority of waypoints were between 3,000–9,000 feet MSL. Phase 3 of analysis removed all overflights that were government flights, major airlines, and survey flights. The remaining flights were low-level overflights. Kernel density analysis was conducted using waypoints segmented into 500 feet above ground level (AGL) altitude intervals. The altitude interval with the highest density of overflights was 0–500 feet 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. Shawn; Gurung, Bijan; Olstad, Tyra; Beeco, Adam
- Date of Issue
- 2025-03
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2309483
- Units
- GLAC , NRSS , NSNSD
- Keywords
- ADS-B, low-level overflights, spatial patterns