Buckingham Palace Radar Line of Sight Assessment (CAA, RAF, NATS, Eurocontrol) London Gatwick PSR

Transcription

1 Buckingham Palace Radar Line of Sight Assessment (CAA, RAF, NATS, Eurocontrol) London Gatwick PSR Demo Wind Buckingham Palace Without Expert Commentary Pager Power Ltd New Mill, Bakers Court Great Cornard, Suffolk, UK T: PAGERPOWER New Mill, Bakers Court, Great Cornard, Suffolk, UK T: E: W:

2 E: W: 1 CONTENTS 2 SUMMARY (EXECUTIVE) EXPERT COMMENTARY... Error! Bookmark not defined. 4 RESULTS SUMMARY REQUESTED ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY AND BACKGROUND FURTHER INFORMATION WIND FARMS AND RADAR NOTICES Report Issue Date and Time of Request Expert Commentary Included 1 No This assessment was requested by Pager Power User of Demo Wind. Copyright 2012 Pager Power Limited Radar Line of Sight Assessment (CAA, RAF, NATS, Eurocontrol) 2

3 2 SUMMARY (EXECUTIVE) Pager Power Pager Power was registered in England in 1997 and is made up of a team of specialist professionals, based near Cambridge. We are a truly international business with more than 250 clients from across the globe. Our reputation has been established as experts able to assess and provide solutions to issues that can arise with any combination of wind turbines, radar, radio communications and construction interaction. We strongly believe that our greatest assets are our people and our software. Purpose The purpose of this assessment is to enable swift and cost effective decision making by wind turbine developers and radar operators. The optional Expert Commentary offers advice as to the next steps that should be taken as a result of the findings of this report. Radar Line of Sight Calculations are used extensively in the planning stages of wind farm development and are referenced by many leading authorities and organisations, including the RAF and the CAA. Wind Turbine Result 1 HIDDEN Explanation: There is one Radar Line of Sight Calculation page for each turbine assessed. Each calculation shows whether the turbine is VISIBLE or HIDDEN. Visible turbines are likely to affect the radar whereas hidden turbines are unlikely to affect the radar. Radar Line of Sight Assessment (CAA, RAF, NATS, Eurocontrol) 3

4 Radar Line of Sight Assessment (CAA, RAF, NATS, Eurocontrol) 4

5 3 RESULTS SUMMARY Wind Turbine Result Certainty Angle (Radar to Tip) Maximum Height 1 HIDDEN metres degrees up metres Column Descriptions Wind Turbine Result Certainty Angle (Radar to Tip) Maximum Height Turbine Number as entered or uploaded VISIBLE turbines are likely to affect the radar whereas HIDDEN turbines are unlikely to affect the radar. This is a vertical distance in metres and is the distance from the turbine tip to the line of sight. The higher the number the greater the certainty. This is the vertical angle from the radar to the wind turbine tip. Some radar are less likely to be affected by a wind turbine if this angle is down and more likely to be affected if this angle is up. A turbine having this tip height would be HIDDEN. A turbine that was any higher would be VISIBLE. Radar Line of Sight Assessment (CAA, RAF, NATS, Eurocontrol) 5

6 4 REQUESTED ASSESSMENT Key Parameters Details This Radar Line of Sight Assessment for Buckingham Palace was requested by Pager Power User of Demo Wind. Assessment Methodology = Radar Line of Sight Calculation using advanced terrain data processing algorithm; Coordinate System = Ordnance Survey National Grid (OSGB36); Coordinate System Region = OSGB36; Vertical Units = Metres; Radar The assessed radar was London Gatwick PSR This specific radar was selected from the online system Location and height information for this radar was sourced from a managed database Development Location Data (as entered in online system) Coordinate (E) Coordinate (N) Hub Height (Metres AGL) Tip Height (Metres AGL) Wind Turbine Reference Radar Line of Sight Assessment (CAA, RAF, NATS, Eurocontrol) 6

7 Map Showing Assessed Turbine Locations Radar Line of Sight Assessment (CAA, RAF, NATS, Eurocontrol) 7

8 Aerial Photograph Showing Assessed Turbine Locations Radar Line of Sight Assessment (CAA, RAF, NATS, Eurocontrol) 8

9 5 METHODOLOGY AND BACKGROUND Introduction This report indicates whether wind turbines at Buckingham Palace will be detected by the London Gatwick PSR. This assessment shows: Whether wind turbines are VISIBLE or HIDDEN A level of certainty as to whether each wind turbine is likely to affect the radar or not. A profile chart showing the radar, each wind turbine and intervening terrain. Scope This assessment: Is new and takes no previous assessment into account; Determines whether each assessed wind turbine at «ProjectName» will be within Radar Line of Sight of the London Gatwick PSR; Does not account for any other radar; Does not account for diffraction effects; Does account for terrain, earth curvature and refraction effects; Uses an advanced terrain data processing algorithm optimized for accurate and reliable wind farm radar calculations; Official Guidance Details The following organisations have published documents that refer to the use of Radar Line of Sight Calculations for determining whether a wind turbine will affect a radar. 1. European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL) 2. UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) 3. UK Royal Air Force (RAF) 4. UK Wind Energy, Defence and Civil Aviation Interests Working Group 5. UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS) 6. US Department of Defense (DoD) 7. US Department of Commerce 8. US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) 9. South African Weather Service (SAWS) 10. Radio Advisory Board of Canada (RABC) 11. Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) Radar Line of Sight Assessment (CAA, RAF, NATS, Eurocontrol) 9

10 Report Preparation This report has been created by a custom-built advanced online service which has the following features: Fast report delivery by Responsive and knowledgeable technical support team Advanced terrain data processing algorithms Terrain Data Source = Ordnance Survey Panorama 50m DTM Radar Line of Sight Calculation Accuracy Details Terrain data used normally has a vertical accuracy of better than three metres. Comparisons and site measurements suggest the terrain data used has a vertical accuracy of around 2 metres. This gives a typical accuracy of 4 metres for Radar Line of Sight Calculation results. Process accuracy is enhanced and designed to give cautious results by: A. Using software developed specifically for wind turbine radar calculations B. Using a weighted average algorithm to determine terrain elevation from terrain data C. Using an algorithm that underestimates, rather than overestimates, terrain peaks D. Using terrain rather than surface data (Great Britain only) E. Using terrain data that sometimes under-represents peaks (Great Britain only) F. Continuous software development and improvement specifically for Radar Line of Sight Calculations G. Continuous process for managing radar position and height data Results Interpretation 1. Radar Line of Sight Calculations are widely used to make an initial determination as to whether a radar will be affected by a wind turbine. 2. Other types of calculation may be more accurate in some circumstances. 3. There are examples of wind turbines that are VISIBLE to radar which do not affect the radar. 4. There are few, if any, examples of wind turbines that are HIDDEN from a radar which do affect the radar. 5. Whilst a Radar Line of Sight Calculation may show a wind turbine to be HIDDEN other assessment types could indicate that the turbine will affect the radar. Radar Line of Sight Assessment (CAA, RAF, NATS, Eurocontrol) 10

11 Operational Assessment - General It is usual to determine whether a wind turbine impacts a radar with a technical assessment followed by an operational assessment. The technical assessment determines whether the wind turbine is likely to affect the radar (This report is a technical assessment). Whilst operational assessments are subjective (they vary from country to country and airport to airport) the following are often taken into consideration when making the assessment: Availability of alternative radar Operational importance of the area where the wind turbines are to be built Distance between the turbine and the radar Area covered by the wind development Number of wind turbines Proximity to existing and future wind developments Mitigation If an operational assessment determines that a wind development will not be acceptable, it may be possible to find a mitigation solution to reduce the wind turbine s effects to an acceptable level. Effective mitigation solutions include: Optimizing the wind farm layout to reduce visibility to radar Reducing the number of wind turbines Changes to operational procedures or rules so that wind turbine effects can be accommodated Reconfiguring the radar and associated systems to reduce the impact of wind turbines Providing additional radar data from a new or existing radar Radar Line of Sight Assessment (CAA, RAF, NATS, Eurocontrol) 11

12 Further Technical Assessment Options Expert Review Radar Detectability Calculation Terrain Data Systems Analysis Shielding Assessment Site Survey Existing Wind Turbines Other Options A wind farm radar expert can review a Radar Line of Sight Calculation for a specific situation and can advise on technical impact, operational impact, mitigation and other aspects. A Radar Detectability calculation is a form of calculation that is more comprehensive than a Radar Line of Sight Calculation. Alternate sources of terrain data can give different results. Analysis with an alternative source of data can be beneficial when results are marginal; the area is particularly hilly and/or the blocking point is close to the radar. Radar data may be processed and/or combined with data from other sources before being displayed to radar operators. Assessing how these processes work can help understand the actual effects a wind turbine may have on radar displays. Housing, airport buildings, urban development, forestry as well as other structures and vegetation can limit a wind turbine s visibility to the radar. A desktop shielding assessment may determine the extent to which a turbine may be hidden from the radar. Using location and height data from a survey of radar, blocking points, significant trees and buildings and wind turbine locations can increase the accuracy of calculation results. The actual technical radar impact of existing wind turbines can be assessed by observing radar screens or radar screen recordings. These actual impacts can be compared with predicted impacts to build further confidence in the assessment results. Actual radar performance and coverage can be measured by measuring radar field strengths or by undertaking a helicopter flight trial. Radar Line of Sight Assessment (CAA, RAF, NATS, Eurocontrol) 12

13 6 FURTHER INFORMATION WIND FARMS AND RADAR Radar Operators UK operators of fixed radar installations include: Royal Air Force Royal Navy Ministry of Defence Met Office NATS (formerly National Air Traffic Services) NERL (NATS En Route Limited) Private Airports Port Authorities Radar Types Types of radar that can be affected by wind turbines include: Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR) Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) Precision Approach Radar (PAR) Air Defence Radar (sometimes referred to as ASACS) Air Traffic Control (ATC) Radar Meteorological Radar Marine Radar Effects of Wind Farms on Radar Wind turbines can have a number of effects which are sometimes significant. These are caused by moving and static parts of the wind turbines reflecting and blocking radar signals. These effects include: False returns on radar displays Reduction in the radar s ability to detect aircraft Reduction in the overall capabilities of the radar Radar Line of Sight Assessment (CAA, RAF, NATS, Eurocontrol) 13

14 7 NOTICES 1. This document is subject to Copyright. Copyright 2012 Pager Power Limited 2. The purchaser of this document is entitled to use this document for internal purposes relating only to the assessed infrastructure. 3. This document shall not be made accessible to the public via the internet and/or search engines. 4. This document should only be distributed or circulated in its entirety. 5. Aerial photography has been sourced from Google. 6. This assessment uses data from a variety of sources. These include radar operators, Pager Power research and surveys, terrain data providers and customers. This data is carefully managed but errors and inaccuracies in the data may lead to errors and inaccuracies in calculation results. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this report it cannot be legally relied upon. Further Support and Information Managing the coexistence of wind turbines and radar is complex. Pager Power has the tools and expertise to assist. If you have any questions or require further information please: call us on during office hours or send an to info@pagerpower.co.uk or come and see us at New Mill, Baker s Court, Great Cornard, Suffolk or ask us to come and see you or visit Radar Line of Sight Assessment (CAA, RAF, NATS, Eurocontrol) 14