The ARTAS (ATM SuRveillance Tracker and Server) system today represents one of the most advanced surveillance data processing and distribution systems in the world. Close to 30 civil and military Air Navigation Service Providers use or plan to use ARTAS as a cornerstone of their national surveillance infrastructure.

Based on PSR, SSR, Mode S and ADS-B surveillance sources, ARTAS uses the latest tracking technologies to deliver an outstanding level of accuracy and reliability in data output. The future version of ARTAS V8 (planned for early 2009) will additionally make use of Wide Area Multilateration (WAM) and ADS-C data.

ASTERIX is being used as a universal exchange format for input and output, guaranteeing a straight-forward integration into existing ATC environments.

Based on its architecture ARTAS permits to separate the tracking functionality from the data server functionality, enabling powerful dedicated services for each of the ATC/ATM users, including customised services for TMA approach and en-route users or any of the safety net and metering applications.

ARTAS fulfils highest performance requirements, including service for a supervision area of up to 2048 x 2048 NMs. Up to 6 ARTAS units can be clustered for cooperation purposes.

The system supports up to 48 input sources and 4000 simultaneously maintained system tracks can be provided at the output.

ARTAS is backed by a comprehensive maintenance and support infrastructure, including the ARTAS User Group (AUG) and a well-defined set of product services for ARTAS turnkey installations.

• Powerful state-of-the-art system tracker
• Supports PSR, SSR, Mode S, ADS-B data sources (ADS-C and Multilateration currently under implementation)
• ASTERIX as universal I/O format
• Highest capacity and performance figures
• Available for Intel/LINUX platforms
• Comprehensive support infrastructure
• Turnkey ARTAS installations
• Total system responsibility service contracts

ARTAS is a powerful and complex system. This relates both to the number of system components that interact, and to the number of COTS, OTS and application packages that have to be installed and properly tuned so that the System works well. This requires the highest level of service quality.

In total ARTAS has almost 1000 system and application parameters that can be adjusted in order to set up and tune the system for optimal use. More than 2/3 of these are tracker parameters that define the application-level behaviour of the data processing.

In addition, the ARTAS sensor data base and geographical data base precisely define environmental data of the used surveillance sensors and track services, AIS and other contextual information needed for ARTAS operation.

In terms of external communication partners, ARTAS is set up in a network environment with links to a number of surveillance data sources and users, as well as to time servers, flight data processing systems and system management stations.

In order to assist the ARTAS user, COMSOFT offers turnkey installations, training, tuning and support services for ARTAS. As part of this service COMSOFT offers a total system responsibility, ensuring the delivery of ARTAS installations that are ready for operational use.

ARTAS follows a modular architecture with a subdivision in software and hardware components and a clear allocation of functions to components. Sensor data arrives at the I/O manager (RBR), is decoded, pre-processed and forwarded sector-wise to the tracker (TRK) component. Based on the input the tracker initiates, continues or terminates tracks using the latest tracking technologies, including Joint Probabilistic Data Association (JPDA) and Interactive Multiple Modelling (IMM). The tracker updates a memory-resident track database and in parallel performs a Multi-Sensor Environment Assessment (MSEA), calculating, for example biases for each of the online sensors.

The server (SRV) reads from the track database implementing specified services for each of the users. The track services are sent making again use of the I/O manager. A system manager presides over the other components for initiation, monitoring and on-line control of the process. Initial configurations are loaded from a configuration database and the system manager provides access to dynamically computed values (e.g. MSEA output).

ARTAS was developed as an industry project on behalf of EUROCONTROL, the European Organisation for Safety of Air Navigation. The first ARTAS specification was defined in the 1990´s and is based on a consolidated list of requirements, which was assessed and refined by tracker experts from the major European civil aviation authorities.

As part of its transition to operational service the system was validated in several extensive evaluation programmes by EUROCONTROL and national administrations, taking into account a wide spectrum of application scenarios. ARTAS is available as a product baseline for Intel/LINUX platforms.

Since 2001 a centralised support service exists, which is called CAMOS (Centralised ARTAS Maintenance and Operational Support). It is operated by EUROCONTROL together with their ARTAS industry partner COMSOFT.

This unique long standing experience with ARTAS enables COMSOFT to offer continuously high service quality, paired with an un-matched in-depth knowledge of the relevant technology.

ARTAS is being continuously enhanced and extended with new features at the application and system level. On behalf of EUROCONTROL COMSOFT extended ARTAS in order to support Mode S Enhanced and ADS-B sensors, including the processing and forwarding of Downlink Aircraft Parameters (DAPs). On the system side, COMSOFT developed the LINUX version of ARTAS.

Currently COMSOFT is working on the integration of Wide Area Multilateration and ADS-C data into ARTAS. Further ongoing activities include the evaluation of new platform technologies.

COMSOFT offers to administrations a standardised and field-proven ARTAS training suite. Training is carried out at the customer premises by a team of senior ARTAS specialists, all with several years of experience in ARTAS development and ARTAS maintenance.

Training addresses different types of customer staff and expert level, including management staff, Level A/B maintenance staff and LAMOS (Local ARTAS Maintenance and Operational Support) staff.

Training includes a mix of theoretical and practical course components and comprises presentation components, course handouts, exercises and optionally completion exams. At the end of the course each trainee will receive a Completion Certificate, identifying him as a trained ARTAS operator or maintenance personnel.