It now seems that the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, located in Houston, is now using Sensis Corporation’s Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X. This is a very advanced runway incursion detection and alerting system. It has already been reported that about 35 airports will be receiving this technology through the Federal Aviation Administration’s ASDE-X program.

This new system combines surface movement radar with Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast, also called ADS-B. This surveillance information will provide the air traffic controllers with a very accurate real time position and identification information of all aircrafts and vehicles on the airport surface.

The airport hopes that, by integrating multiple surveillance technologies, the system will be able to deliver a very comprehensive picture of ground operations for the air traffic control station. This will help to approve awareness and improving airport safety in all kinds of weather conditions.

Th system is also going to feature advanced runway conflict detection and alerting technology. This kind of system can use complex algorithms to alert the controllers of potential aircraft incursions before they even happen. In the end, the hope is to get aircraft collisions on the ground to zero.

The chief operating officer of Sensis Corporation says that the ASDE-X is able to provide the controller with a very high level of awareness of what is going on. This is done by conflict detection and alerting capabilities. Visual conflict alerts will be delivered right to the pilots.

The Geroge Bush Intercontinental Airport will be the 21^st airport with this kind of system in place. More airports around the United States will be fitted with this kind of system in the near feature.