ASTERIX (ATC standard)
Encyclopedia
ASTERIX is a standard for the exchange of air traffic control
(ATC) information. It is developed and maintained by the Europe
an ATC organization Eurocontrol. ASTERIX not only stands for All-Purpose Structured Eurocontrol Surveillance
Information
Exchange but also represents a state-of-the-art surveillance data
format which is nearly being adopted by the world users community
as the universal standard
in this domain
today.
ASTERIX is an extensible standard with a number of different categories, each of which deals with one particular kind of information. These include target reports from surveillance
sensors such as radar
s as well as processed information such as aircraft tracks and various system status messages.
Each system/sensor using the ASTERIX data format is assigned a unique identifier composed of two 8 bit values, the System Area Code
(SAC) and the System Identification Code (SIC). The ANSP
selects the SIC, but the SAC is assigned globally to system operators by Eurocontrol (see external link).
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
(ATC) information. It is developed and maintained by the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an ATC organization Eurocontrol. ASTERIX not only stands for All-Purpose Structured Eurocontrol Surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
Information
Information
Information in its most restricted technical sense is a message or collection of messages that consists of an ordered sequence of symbols, or it is the meaning that can be interpreted from such a message or collection of messages. Information can be recorded or transmitted. It can be recorded as...
Exchange but also represents a state-of-the-art surveillance data
Data
The term data refers to qualitative or quantitative attributes of a variable or set of variables. Data are typically the results of measurements and can be the basis of graphs, images, or observations of a set of variables. Data are often viewed as the lowest level of abstraction from which...
format which is nearly being adopted by the world users community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
as the universal standard
Standardization
Standardization is the process of developing and implementing technical standards.The goals of standardization can be to help with independence of single suppliers , compatibility, interoperability, safety, repeatability, or quality....
in this domain
Applied science
Applied science is the application of scientific knowledge transferred into a physical environment. Examples include testing a theoretical model through the use of formal science or solving a practical problem through the use of natural science....
today.
ASTERIX is an extensible standard with a number of different categories, each of which deals with one particular kind of information. These include target reports from surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
sensors such as radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
s as well as processed information such as aircraft tracks and various system status messages.
Each system/sensor using the ASTERIX data format is assigned a unique identifier composed of two 8 bit values, the System Area Code
System Area Code
In air traffic control, the System Area Code is part of a unique identifier assigned to each system which uses the ASTERIX format. The Eurocontrol SuRveillance Data Exchange Task Force maintains these identifiers internationally and assigns them to regions such as countries, though sometimes more...
(SAC) and the System Identification Code (SIC). The ANSP
Air Navigation Service Provider
An Air Navigation Service Provider is the organisation that separates aircraft on the ground or in flight in a dedicated block of airspace on behalf of a state or a number of states....
selects the SIC, but the SAC is assigned globally to system operators by Eurocontrol (see external link).
External links
- ASTERIX page at Eurocontrol
- SAC List (worldwide)
- AsterixInspector open source software displays the contents of Asterix files