IMPLEMENTING GIGAPAN TECHNOLOGY INTO AN AIRPORT’S FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS (FOD) MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

摘要

This article presents a technology that can easily be implemented at airports by airport operatorsto conduct daily foreign object debris (FOD) inspections. The process includes developinggigapixel panoramas of an airport runway that can be reviewed close to “live time” by trainedstaff. The approach promotes an inexpensive means for FOD detection without having toconduct daily runway drive-through tours. In addition to FOD inspection, the technology canpotentially be used as a pavement management system tool, and for detecting wildlife.Gigapan technology is used to develop high-resolution panoramas from multiple gridimages. The technology incorporates a robotic camera mount and corresponding software todevelop a composite image from multiple images. The high resolution gigapixel panoramaenables a viewer to zoom-in on objects within the panorama similar in approach to Google Earth.Consequently, panorama viewing becomes interactive.This article reviews GigaPan technology and how it can be incorporated into FODinspections to promote airfield runway safety.