Terrain database integrity monitor for synthetic vision systems

This paper discusses a terrain database integrity monitor for Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) in Civil Aviation applications. SVS provide the pilots with advanced display technology containing terrain information as well as other information about the external environment such as obstacles and traffic. SVS will improve situational awareness and thereby reduce the likelihood of Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). Safe utilization of the SVS for strategic and tactical applications may require a terrain database integrity check. The discussed integrity monitor checks the consistency between the sensed terrain profile as computed from DGPS and radar altimeter data and the terrain profile as given by the terrain databases. A case study to verify the integrity monitor's performance is presented based on data collected during flight-testing performed by NASA at Asheville, NC.