Track Correlation

Owned by Isabelle Avery (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Dec 12, 2022 by Daniel Potter
2 min read

Introduction

When there is overlapping radar coverage with correlation enabled, tracks are effectively analysed to establish whether it’s the same target being reported by one or more radars. If the probability of multiple tracks being the same target is greater than the correlation factor, then the track correlation process will remove duplicates. This process ensures track Ids are maintained when targets move from one radar’s coverage to an adjacent one.

These settings are used to fine tune the correlation process. If you narrow the settings this makes it harder for tracks to correlate however if you widen the settings then its more likely you will correlate tracks which are not related to one another.

Please note that correlation requires very accurate alignment of the radars, with each other and with ground truth. This will ensure accurate handover of tracks between radar and also better accuracy of the track position.

Contents

Track Correlation

Enabled: Select to enable Track Correlation.

Correlate Same Sensor Channels: Correlate tracks not only between sensors but internally between individual sensor channels.

Speed (m/s): Sets the speed delta that will be used to compare two or more tracks which are potentially the same track from different sensors. If the speeds are within this delta then the tracks will be considered for correlation.

Direction (°): Sets the direction / course delta that will be used to compare two or more tracks which are potentially the same track from different sensors. If the directions are within this delta then the tracks will be considered for correlation.

Distance (m): Sets the distance within which two or more tracks, which are potentially the same track from different sensors, can be considered for correlation.

Period (s): Sets how often the correlation process processes tracks from all sensors. Once correlation is enabled this period will set the track update rate for the whole system.

Note that the period should be slightly slower than the slowest rotating radar on the site. For example, if you using a combination of 1Hz and 2Hz radar, this period should only be set to a value of 1.2 seconds or slower. If the site only had 2Hz radar then you would set the period to 0.6 second or slower.

Track Expiry Factor: This is a factor to apply to stop tracks expiring whilst still being updated. This factor works as a multiplication of the time it takes for the radar to complete a rotation.

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