Exploring spatial patterns of overflights at Grand Canyon National Park

Abstract

This study explored spatial patterns of overflights at Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA). Overflights were analyzed from February 5th, 2020 to January 9th, 2023 (975 days of data; 95 days of missing data) using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data. The first phase of analysis focused on all overflights and found a high concentration of overflights above GRCA and definitive travel patterns across the park. The second phase of analysis focused on low-level overflights that fly below 10,000 ft mean sea level (MSL) and fly within 10-miles of the GRCA boundary. Phase 2 figures display yearly overflights segmented by aircraft type and show a concentration of flights between 7,000 – 10,000 ft MSL near the southeast boundary of GRCA. The third phase of analysis removed all overflights known to not be air tours. Kernel density analysis was conducted using waypoints segmented into 500 ft above ground level (AGL) altitude intervals. The altitude interval with the highest density of overflights was ‘3,001 – 3,500 ft AGL’. This information can be used for planning and management purposes and this study serves as a resource for future research that intends to use more advanced analytics.