ANALYSIS PROGRAMS

USING

RADAR BEACON ANALYSIS TOOL (RBAT)

CHUCK BAXTER

FEB 3, 2007

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 Radar Beacon Analysis Tool (RBAT)

OVERVIEW
A set of analysis programs has been developed for FAA radar systems at the FAA
Technical Center (AJP-7162). These programs are executed under Windows on a
PC.

INPUT
These programs were originally designed for CD-2 record files, but now work
with ASTERIX, Sensis, and RS3 files. These are cumulatively called extraction
files.

OUTPUTS
The programs can provide additional extraction files that have been filtered or
enhanced to become the input file for further analysis. The normal output files are
a text file and a plot file.

PURPOSE OF RBAT SOFTWARE

The RBAT software is used to analyze surveillance performance, both beacon and
primary radar. FAA field technicians use RBAT to evaluate and certify their
systems. Some of the performance parameters measured are coverage, detection,
range accuracy, azimuth accuracy, and false targets.

RBAT PROGRAMS

Analysis Programs

Beacon and Radar Coverage - calculates and plots the coverage of

different regions (cells) of the airspace. It provides minimum altitude and
elevation angle for each cell.

Beacon False Target Summary - identifies beacon false targets and

groups them into several false target categories: splits, ring-a-round, PRF
interference, uplink reflections, downlink reflections, Terra,
ATCRBS/Mode S, and other categories.

Conflict Analysis - this program looks at the situations where two or more
aircraft are close to each other. Two tracks are in conflict if they are in
each other’s user specified range and azimuth windows. The text file
provides surveillance statistics for each conflict. Plots of the conflicting
tracks are also provided.

Duplicate Search Analysis - used for 3D radars. A search message is a

duplicate if:
There is another message with the same range, azimuth, and height
Or

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There is radar reinforced beacon message with the same height that falls
within user defined range and azimuth criteria.

Enhanced Surveillance - processes the Mode S transponder environment.

This program requires an ASTERIX file from the ATCBI-6. The Mode S
data is searched for the transponder GICB register data. It looks at
communications capability, specific services capability, altitude resolution,
squitter capability, etc.

Filter - comprehensive filter program that is used to provide another CD-2

record or ASTERIX file that only contains the messages needed for further
analysis. Range, azimuth, codes, altitude, etc are some of the filters that
can be selected.

Fixed Transponder Accuracy - usually two fixed transponders are

installed at each beacon facility. Sometimes called a PARROT and
sometimes called a CPME. These transponders are monitored by different
systems. The program calculates the azimuth and range accuracy by
comparing the data against the known position.

Moving Track Filter - produces another CD-2 record or ASTERIX file

that contains all of the messages that pass the moving track filter. The user
may first run Surveillance Analysis to determine the track of interest and
input that track number to Moving Track Filter, or the user may select a
Mode 3/A code or Mode S Id. A user specified range and azimuth box
passes only those messages within the box. Mode S messages, ATCRBS
messages, radar messages, etc are filtered.

Moving Track Plot - uses the original extraction file as its input. The
program runs Surveillance Analysis. The user is then given three ways to
select tracks of interest. The user can input ATCRBS Id, Mode S Id, or
track number. Now the program runs the Moving Track Filter program.
The output extraction file is then used to run Surveillance Analysis again,
with the history, listing, and uncorrelated options set. The program now
provides a display of the moving track and all of the messages contained.
To read the listings, consult the help file for Surveillance Analysis. Note:
This is a new program that reduces the steps necessary to view a
moving track.

Multi Site Plot - requires a multi site file. The program plots beacon
tracks from several sites using a common multi site origin.

Multi Site Registration - requires a multi site file. The program calculates
the range, azimuth errors using a common multi site origin.

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 Nine Points Accuracy - looks at 4 scans before the target and 4 scans
after the target to predict the target location. The prediction is compared to
the reported position and the program calculates the position accuracy.

Peak Loading - used to determine the peak message loads in specified

areas.

Playback - plays back the CD-2 record or ASTERIX file on a PPI type
display.

Scan Interval Plot - plots messages for a user specified set of scans.

Scan Summary - counts the messages by category each scan. It also gives
the initial system status and any changes in system status. This should be
normally the first program run to perform an analysis, as message data
losses can be easily identified.

Surveillance Analysis - analyzes beacon and search performance using an

integrated beacon and search tracker. Statistics are given by track,
position, and overall. This program generates an output extraction file that
be used as an input for the other programs. The output file attaches a track
number to each beacon message that is used by other programs.

Surveillance Print and Plot - develops a text file and a plot file for a user
defined filter. Used extensively to show the listing and plot desired
messages.

Three-Dimensional Height Accuracy - the ARSR-4 provides height in

the output search message. That message is merged with the beacon
message, which contains Mode C altitude. This program considers the
Mode C altitude to be the standard and compares the height provided by
the ARSR-4 against it.

Throughput - calculates the delay time from the time that the aircraft is
scanned by the beam to the time that the message is sent. Statistics and
plots are given as a function of system loading.

Transponder Register Accuracy - uses the ATCBI-6 ASTERIX format

that contains the ground initiated Comm B (GICB) messages from the
Mode S targets. The purpose of this program is to help determine how
useful the GICB registers might be.

Merge Programs - these use the results from more than 1 data file to give a
combined result. In order to use this program, each data file is assigned a test
number from 1 to 50. The user can then select the test numbers that he wants to
merge.

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 Beacon and Radar Coverage Merge
Beacon False Target Summary Merge
Conflict Analysis Merge
Fixed Transponder Accuracy Merge
Multi Site Registration Merge
Nine Points Accuracy Merge
Surveillance Analysis Merge
Three Dimensional Height Accuracy Merge
Throughput Merge
Transponder Register Accuracy Merge

Display Results Programs

Plot - displays the graphics.

Print - prints the text file.

Scroll - displays the text file. The user can scroll through it. The text is
large and the user can't see an entire page at a time.

View - displays the text file. The user can view a page at a time.

Utility Programs

ACES Compare - the ACES is a test target generator that is used to test
monopulse beacon systems, acting as a single transponder for each
simulated aircraft. The user provides a scenario into the ACES of beacon
tracks and beacon fruit. In order to determine if the beacon system
processes the ACES reply information correctly, the ACES outputs and the
beacon output messages are compared.

Combine Two Files - the input files are CD-2 record or ASTERIX
formats and the output file contains the data from both files sorted by time.

Convert ASR-11 ASTERIX EDC File - converts the ASR-11 ASTERIX

file to an ASTERIX file compatible with RBAT.

Convert RS3 File - RBAT processes input files in CD-2 record,

ASTERIX, or RS3 formats directly. If the RS3 file contains more than 16
sites, however, this program must be used to produce CD file(s) of 16 sites
or less.

Convert Sensis Generic Format File - converts SGF file to a CD-2

record or ASTERIX file.

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File Edit - allows the user to edit the header of the CD-2 record or
ASTERIX file. This is sometimes necessary to get a file that can be
processed by RBAT. Normally the user would select the enhanced header
format versus the old EBCDIC format.

Latitude and Longitude Conversion - converts from latitude, longitude,

and altitude to range, azimuth, and altitude (or vice versa).

Site Data Base - lists all the sites in the database. It is also used to develop
a KML file that can be input to Google Earth. The Google earth program
can be downloaded to any PC and can be used to show the satellite view
of the radar site.

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 RBAT MENU

File
Close
Open - user selects the input data extraction file
Exit

Programs - user selects the program to run

Mode
Execute - runs the program or programs in the queue
Queue - user sets up several programs in the queue

Preferences
Assistant - displays user info on the main window - select it

Default Site Parameters Precedence - normally select the database rather than
the file header.

Disable Warning Messages - normally do not disable them

One Default Directory - I recommend that the user select this option. I also
recommend that the user set up a directory structure where a separate folder is
used for each input data extraction file. Running RBAT generates a lot of files that
will all go into the folder where the data extraction file resides.

Remember Options - leave unchecked

Show Dialog Boxes - check all six of them

Simple Filename - not a good idea if doing a lot of analysis. The complex
filename puts the CD-2 record or ASTERIX filename at the beginning of the
output files.

Start Plot - check this

Start Print - do not check this

Start Scroll - do not check this

Start View - check this

Download - not normally used. This gets a new RBAT program update if available.

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Help
Help Topics - very extensive help files.

Tutorial - user can print this out and it will guide the user through operation of
some of the programs.

About - gives the RBAT version number and date

Contact Information - gives name, address, and telephone number of

programmer

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