Development and characteristics of African Satellite Augmentation System (ASAS) network

This paper reports on an African Satellite Augmentation System (ASAS) Space and Ground Segments as an integration part of Global Satellite Augmentation System (GSAS) for enhanced Traffic Control and Management (TCM) globally at sea, on the ground (road and railway vehicles) and in the air. The ASAS network can be used as solely systems for covering and providing TCM and Safety and Security service for entire African Continent and Middle East region, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), its Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendations and requirements. Since 1995 few commercial Regional Satellite Augmentation System (RSAS) networks have been projected and developed to utilize Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) service for Maritime Traffic Control (MTC), Land Traffic Control (LTC) and Air Traffic Control (ATC), including for improved Safety and Security in all transportation systems. The proposed Space Segment of Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) constellation and Ground Segment of ASAS network are discussed, and areas examined where further investigations are needed. Specific issues related to these challenges are concluded and a set of solutions is proposed to maximize the availability of ASAS network capacity to the user applications.

ADSS:

Automatic Dependent Surveillance System

ASS:

Augmentation Standards Service

ASTB:

African Satellite Test Bed

ATC:

Air Traffic Control

AVAS:

African VHF Augmentation System

CES:

Coast Earth Station

CMGC:

Coastal Movement Guidance and Control

CNS:

Communication, Navigation and Surveillance

CNSO:

Civil Navigation Satellite Overlay

CRS:

Coast Radio Station

DC:

Differential Corrections

DC:

Differential Corrections

DGPS:

Differential GPS

DME:

Distance Measuring Equipment

DOP:

Dilution of Precision

DSC:

Digital Selective Call

DST:

Department of Science and Technology

DST:

Department of Science and Technology

EGNOS:

European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System

FAA:

Federal Aviation Administration

GAGAN:

GPS/GLONASS and GEOS Augmented Navigation

GAS:

Ground Augmentation System

GBAS:

Ground-based Augmentation System

GCS:

Ground Control Stations

GEO:

Geostationary Earth Orbit

GES:

Ground Earth Station

GIC:

GNSS Integrity Channel

GMDSS:

Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

GMS:

Ground Monitoring Station

GNSS:

Global Navigation Satellite System

GRS:

Geostationary Ranging Station

GRS:

Ground Radio Station

GSAS:

Global Satellite Augmentation System

ICAA:

Integrity, Continuity, Accuracy and Availability

ICAO:

International Civil Aviation Organization

IGP:

Ionospheric Grid Points

ILS:

Instrument Landing System

IMO:

International Maritime Organization

LAA:

Local Augmentation Area

LAS:

Local Augmentation System

LGS:

Light Guidance System

LSAS:

Local Satellite Augmentation System

LTC:

Land Traffic Control

LVAS:

Local VHF Augmentation System

MSAS:

MTSAT Satellite-based Augmentation System

MTC:

Maritime Traffic Control

NDB:

Non-Directional Beacons

NMS:

Navigation Management System

NPA:

Non-Precision Approach

NSI:

National Space Institute

PA:

Precision Approach

PVT:

Position, Velocity and Time

RAIM:

Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring

RCS:

Radar Control Station

RDDI:

Radio Direction Distance Information

RDI:

Radio Direction Information

RFP:

Request for Proposal

RGIC:

Ranging GIC

RR:

Reference Receiver

RSAS:

Regional Satellite Augmentation System

Rx:

Receivers

SBAS:

Satellite-based Augmentation System (ICAO nomenclature)

SDCM:

System of Differential Correction and Monitoring

SMGC:

Surface Movement Guidance and Control

SNAS:

Satellite Navigation Augmentation System

TAB:

Transport Augmentation Board

TCC:

Traffic Control Centers

TCM:

Traffic Control and Management

TCS:

Terrestrial Communication Subsystem

TTN:

Terrestrial Telecommunication Networks

VHF:

Very High Frequency

VOR:

VHF Omnidirectional Ranging

VPR:

Voice Position Reports

WAA:

Wide Augmentation Area

WAAS:

Wide Area Augmentation System

WADGNSS:

Wide Area Differential GNSS

WMS:

Wide Master Station

WRS:

Wide Reference Station

Authors and Affiliations

1. Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), 133 Bencorrum, 183 Prince Street, Durban, 4001, South Africa

   D. S. Ilcev

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. S. Ilcev.

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