Light Signal Clearance Surface (Aviation)

Available with Aviation Airports license.

Available with Aviation Charting license.

Summary

Creates a Light Signal Clearance Surface (LSCS) based on the FAA Engineering Brief (EB) 95.

A LSCS determines which objects are vertical obstructions. An object is considered as vertical obstruction if it penetrates the LSCS. Surfaces are used to support planning and design activities.

Usage

  • The Input Runway Features parameter must be z-enabled.

  • This tool creates the Obstruction Identification Surface (OIS) in an existing polygon or multipatch feature class. It can also be generated in an existing polygon shapefile. If a feature class is selected for Target OIS Features, it must have a vertical spatial reference.

  • OIS tools are flexible and accept a variety of input and output feature class types. For more information, see the OIS Input and Output schemas.

Syntax

LightSignalClearanceSurface(in_features, target, {runway_direction}, {length}, {divergence}, {slope}, {distance_from_threshold}, {first_papi_light}, {last_papi_light}, {start_height})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_features

The input runway dataset. The feature class must be z-enabled and contain polylines.

Feature Layer
target

The target feature class that will contain the generated obstruction identification surfaces.

Feature Layer
runway_direction
(Optional)

Specifies the end of the runway where the approach surface will be created.

  • HIGH_RUNWAY_END_DESIGNATOR The approach surface will be created at the high end of the runway. This is the default.
  • LOW_RUNWAY_END_DESIGNATORThe approach surface will be created at the low end of the runway.
String
length
(Optional)

The length of the surface in miles. The default value is 8.

Double
divergence
(Optional)

The divergence of the surface in degrees. The default value is 14.

Double
slope
(Optional)

The slope of the surface in degrees. The default value is 1.

Double
distance_from_threshold
(Optional)

The distance from the threshold in feet. The default value is 1000.

Double
first_papi_light
(Optional)

The location of the first precision approach path indicator. The default value is 60.

Double
last_papi_light
(Optional)

The location of the last precision approach path indicator. The default value is 120.

Double
start_height
(Optional)

The start height of the surface. The default value is 35.

Double

Derived Output

NameExplanationData Type
derived_outfeatureclass

The updated feature class containing the generated Obstruction Identification Surface.

Feature Layer

Code sample

LightSignalClearanceSurface example (stand-alone script)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the LightSignalClearanceSurface tool.

import arcpy

arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Airports")

# Input Runway Feature Class
inFeatures = r"C:\data\ois.gdb\RunwayCenterline"

# Feature class that will contain the OIS surface
outFeatures= r"C:\data\ois.gdb\ObstructionIdSurface"

# Define surface dimensions
runway = "HIGH_RUNWAY_END_DESIGNATOR"
length = 8
divergence = 14
slope = 1
distance_from_threshold = 1000
first_papi_light = 60
last_papi_light = 120
start_height = 35

# Generate Light Signal Clearance Surface
arcpy.LightSignalClearanceSurface_aviation(inFeatures, outFeatures, runway,
                                           length, divergence, slope,
                                           distance_from_threshold,
                                           first_papi_light, last_papi_light,
                                           start_height)

arcpy.CheckInExtension("Airports")

Environments

This tool does not use any geoprocessing environments.

Licensing information

  • Basic: No
  • Standard: Requires Airports, ArcGIS Aviation Charting
  • Advanced: Requires Airports, ArcGIS Aviation Charting

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