Exploring Spatial Patterns of Overflights at Saguaro National Park
Peterson BA, Hutchinson JS, Gurung B, Beeco A. 2025. Exploring Spatial Patterns of Overflights at Saguaro National Park. Science Report. NPS/SR—2025/331. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2314311
This study explores spatial patterns of overflights at Saguaro National Park. Data were collected from on top of a tack shed located along the western boundary of the Rincon Mountain District. Overflights were analyzed from December 24, 2024–February 11, 2025 (50 total days; 13 days of missing data) using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data. Phase 1 of analysis focused on all overflights and found more overflights above the Tucson Mountain District than the Rincon Mountain District. Phase 2 of analysis focused on low-level overflights that fly between 2,000 to 10,000 feet above mean sea level (MSL) and flew within 10 miles of the SAGU boundary and found that most low-level overflights occur near the west boundary of the Rincon Mountain District and that the Tucson Mountain District has a distinct low-level overflight corridor. 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. For the Rincon Mountain District, the altitude interval with the highest density was 500 to 1,000 feet AGL and for the Tucson Mountain District, the altitude interval with the highest density was the 2,500 to 3,000 feet AGL altitude interval. 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, Adam
- Date of Issue
- 2025-07
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2314311
- Units
- NRSS , SAGU
- Keywords
- ADS-B, low-level overflights, spatial patterns