When birds hit planes: research helps reduce bird-strike risk
Andrew Wade, 604.505.9421 (cell); awa25@sfu.ca
Brian Fisher, 778.782.7554; bfisher@sfu.ca
David Kasik, 425.830.4276; david.j.kasik@boeing.com
Marianne Meadahl, PAMR, 778.782.3210
Damage to commercial airplanes from bird strikes is a multi-million dollar problem–one that has visual analytics specialists such as Simon Fraser University researcher Andrew Wade helping safety experts to better understand the risk of strikes.
Wade, a graduate student in SFU Surrey’s School of Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT), collaborated with safety experts at Boeing Commercial Airplane Safety Engineering in Seattle during an internship with the company this past spring.
Working with Roger Nicholson, a Boeing associate technical fellow and international bird strike expert, Wade studied how visual analytic software tools known as INSPIRE and Tableau could provide insight into challenges associated with bird strikes and reduce the risk of airplane damage in the event of a strike.
The researchers' recommendations have influenced design decisions to reduce the risk of damage on four different Boeing airplanes. They’ve also enhanced the guidance Boeing gives pilots about bird strikes.
“The damage caused by birds ranges from dents and scratches to results that are much more serious, even catastrophic. They can take out engines, break windshields or worse, as in the case of USAir flight 1549’s landing in the Hudson River,” says Wade, who presented his findings at an international conference on bird strikes in Utah in June.
Data shows that at least 20 bird strikes involving commercial airplanes are reported every day in North America, costing an estimated $750 million annually.
Visual analytics uses visual representations of data to aid in the detection of patterns and improve the efficacy of analyzing massive amounts of data, says SIAT associate professor Brian Fisher.
“This enables analysts to discover unexpected patterns as well as detect expected events in their data,” Fisher notes. “It's hard to automate discovery, so we use visualization to support the human discoverer."
The research to date has Boeing looking to make greater use of visual analytics and SFU students, as a number of others become involved in various aspects of the research.
Says David Kasik, Boeing senior technical fellow: ”We look forward to expanding the relationship in terms of hiring students who have analytic and cognitive skills, coupled with the ability to use visual analytics tools.
“In addition, we believe universities can offer training that allows current Boeing employees to acquire similar skills.”
Boeing has provided major funding for a five-year visual analytics research program involving SFU and UBC. Earlier this year Boeing invested $1.25 million towards the creation of the Vancouver Institute of Visual Analytics (VIVA), a hub for researchers like Wade, and a move that is helping the city become a major centre for innovation in the field.
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