Detecting birds and estimating their velocity vectors by means of MRL-5 meteorological radar

2007

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Algorithmic System for Identifying Bird Radio-Echo and Plotting Radar Ornithological Charts The territory of Israel is a route for major bird migration from Europe and certain areas in Asia and Africa and back. During the period of intensive migration, the average density of birds may reach over 500 birds per a square kilometre of the air. These figures, alongside with the fact the air over the country is saturated with aircraft, makes it an urgent task to find solutions for prevention of disasters caused by aircraft-bird collisions. In the present paper, a new algorithm is proposed aimed at identifying bird radar echoes against the background of other reflectors. The implementation of the algorithm has made it possible to improve the computerised radar system for bird monitoring developed earlier in Israel on the basis of MRL-5 meteorological radar station. The time needed for echo selection has been significantly reduced, while the trustworthiness of the ornithological data provided by the algorithm has increased. The new algorithm utilizes several echo properties that have been added to the algorithm previously developed by the authors, the most important of them being the pattern of echo movement. These properties in combination with a set of techniques used for their identification enabled to isolate the echo from moving birds against the background of other objects (ground clutter, clouds, atmospheric inhomogeneities, aircraft, etc.) at the accuracy level sufficient for operational purposes. The information on echo movement was used for plotting flight vectors (velocity and direction) of individual birds and bird groups. On the basis of movement pattern, four types of movement were distinguished: straightforward at non-uniform velocity; straightforward at uniform velocity; significant deviation from a straight line, non-uniform velocity and chaotic undirected shifts. The system enables on-line plotting of operational ornithological charts every 15-30 min, including charts that combine meteorological and bird monitoring data, to be provided to air traffic control services. This makes the proposed radar ornithological system an efficient means of maintaining air traffic safety in complicated meteorological and ornithological conditions.

“…The new algorithm is based on the previously developed radar system (Dinevich et al 2004), which makes it necessary to describe only the major features of the task. 1.…”

Section: Formulation Of the Taskmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Algorithmic System for Identifying Bird Radio-Echo and Plotting Radar Ornithological Charts

2007

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“…High-potential meteorological radar MRL-5 (Abshayev et al 1980), mounted at 270 m a.s.l. in Latrun (Israel), significantly broadens the possibilities for high accuracy bird monitoring at night , Dinevich et al 2004. Radar bird monitoring makes it possible to obtain reliable data on nocturnal migration.…”

Section: Background and Statement Of The Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The data obtained, together with the radar monitoring procedure previously developed (Dinevich et al 2004), resulted in establishing a radar network over Israel that forwards information on bird movements to air traffic control stations every 15-30 minutes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Some Characteristics of Nocturnal Bird Migration in Israel According to Radar Monitoring

Matsyura

2005

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Dinevich L., Leshem Y., Matsyura A. 2005. Some characteristics of nocturnal bird migration in Israel according to the radars surveillance. Ring 27, 2: 197-213.The present study is aimed at obtaining radar data on nocturnal bird migration over central Israel to be used for improvement of air traffic safety in complicated ornithological settings. The data obtained, together with the radar monitoring procedure previously developed (Dinevich et al. 2004), resulted in establishing a radar network over Israel that forwards information on bird movements to air traffic control stations every 15-30 minutes.The results of radar monitoring of nocturnal bird migration over central Israel are presented (1998Israel are presented ( -2002 enabling to determine a number of characteristics which are of importance for air traffic control, including average and maximum flight altitudes, altitudes of maximum bird density, the dominant directions and velocity of bird flights.The average flight altitude was found to be mainly within the limits of 1800 to 2000 m in autumn and of 2400 to 2900 m in spring. The absolute maximum altitude was estimated at 5700 m in spring and at 5200 m in autumn. Average altitudes of maximum bird density are considerably higher in spring (ca 1500 m) than in autumn (ca 1000 m). The study of flight directions and speed of over of 20 000 bird echoes showed that the dominant direction of migration was 183°in autumn and 6°in spring. Within the altitude band of 0 to 500 m, deviations from the dominant migratory route were observed, being approximately 135°in autumn and 315°in spring, which can be explained by intensive migration of songbirds from the Mediterranean Sea towards winter-quarters in autumn and back in spring. Cases of reverse migration were relatively rare and were not characteristic for the nocturnal bird migration over central Israel. The average speed of bird flights was found to be around 14 m/s in spring and 13 m/s in autumn, the minimum and maximum flight speed being 8 m/s and 18 m/s, respectively.

“…The research conducted by means of the radar enabled to develop an algorithm of bird echo selection against the background of other reflecting objects. This algorithm serves as the basis for on-line radar monitoring of bird migration round the clock (Dinevich et al 2004, Dinevich andLeshem 2006). Since August 2003, the on-line radar data on bird migration, including flight altitudinal distributions, direction and velocity of flights, have been entered into special charts and sent every 15-30 min.…”

Section: Introduction and Problem Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Some Characteristics of Daytime Bird Migration in Israel: Radar Monitoring Data

2008

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Bird-aircraft collisions often lead to severe plane crashes. An ornithological radar system aimed at preventing such collisions was developed and has been in operation in Israel for over three years. The system enables radar monitoring of bird migration in spring and in autumn, and yields the data in the form of special charts that are sent on-line every 15-30 min to air traffic control bodies. The data enables flight dispatchers to locate areas of massive bird concentrations, as well as directions and altitudes of bird flights, in order to channel the air traffic accordingly.In addition, it is of high importance to have statistics on seasonal transcontinental bird migrations in order to perform long-term planning of air traffic, especially in the areas crowded with aircraft.We analysed the radar data collected over several years, and on this basis determined the main statistical characteristics of daytime bird flights over central Israel, including: (1) average and maximum flight altitudes, (2) time of the day and the season when bird migration is especially intensive, (3) dominating directions and velocities of flights.It was found that average daily altitude maximums of bird flights (in relation to the sea level) were within the range of 1200-3500 m in autumn, and within the range of 1000-2700 m in spring. The absolute flight maximum reached 4300 m in autumn and 3700 m in spring. In autumn, flight altitudes were higher than in spring.The altitudes of maximum bird concentrations reached 600 m in autumn, and only in rare cases rose to 650 m, while in spring the corresponding figures were 500 and 600 m. Both in spring and in autumn, the average altitude of maximum bird concentration was located within the range of 250-400 m.The dominant flight direction for day migration was 190-220°in autumn and 10-50°in spring.In our study, we did not observe any pronounced impact of wind direction on the direction of bird flights, neither close to the ground level nor at the height of 600 m. In Israel, both in autumn and in spring, the winds have a distinct occidental component, and at the height of 600 m the dominant wind directions are W-NW in autumn and W-SW in spring, i.e. at the angle of approximately 90°in relation to the directions of seasonal bird migrations.Brought to you by | MIT Libraries Authenticated Download Date | 5/10/18 11:00 PM The average ground-speed of seasonal migrations was found to be 14 m/s in spring and 15 m/s in autumn, the minimum and maximum ground-speed values of 8 and 18 m/s, respectively. At the same time, average monthly grounds-speed values at the altitude of 600 m, at 11.00 a.m. local time, were found to be within the range of 4-7 m/s in autumn and 3-6 m/s in spring.