Radar and Carriageway Alignment

Owned by Isabelle Avery (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Jul 31, 2023 by Charlotte Dakin-Norris
4 min read

Introduction

This page covers how to switch on and align the radar data to a previously drawn carriageway.

Contents

Overview

When a radar sensor is physically installed, it is quite likely that its alignment does not precisely match with due North, as used by ClearWay™ to align all elements. It is necessary to ensure that all radar data is aligned North, as a common geographical point of reference.

Configure the Distribution IP Address

You need to configure a distribution IP address.

This should be an IP address on the User Interface client computer that the trackers can send data to.

To do this:

  1. Select the site name on the Configuration Tree, which is the master folder of the Entity Tree (e.g. the site, Navtech Demo, as illustrated below):

     

  2. The site settings will then be displayed in the Configuration Panel:

     

  3. Click Edit and select the IP address from the drop-down list (the list is auto populated by examining the IP addresses on the system running the UI application).

     

  4. Add the IP Address and then click Save.

Aligning a Radar Sensor

  1. Ensure that the radar sensor is powered on and has a healthy connection to its Track Engine.

     

  2. Enable the Config Function, then select the radar group in the Configuration Tree, then click the Settings button for the radar:

     

  3. The Radar Group settings panel will open. Click Edit:

     

  4. The Radar Mini Control will pop up. Move the Radar Group settings panel to the side so that you can view the PPI map more clearly. Select Radar Data from the Radar Mini Control:

     

  5. Then, under Source, choose Raw from the dropdown list:

     

  6. The Raw Data will be visible as a green circle of data. You may need to scroll or use the PPI Display Navigation Control to adjust the size and view of the PPI map display underneath until you can see the radar sensor and its immediate surroundings, preferably so that you can recognise several fixed objects such as buildings, fences, etc. on the Map. It may be useful to adjust the opacity of the Google or Open Street Map on the PPI map display using the slider underneath the PPI Display Navigation Control:

     

  7. Within the Raw Data, search for traces of the fixed objects that are present within the Google or Open Street Map. Detected objects appear as bright green data. You now need to rotate the Raw Data so that it aligns precisely with the Open Street Map. If they are already aligned then you do not need to make any further alterations.

  8. To adjust the Raw Data either use Ctrl+Click+Drag to move the radar, or the PPI arrows surrounding the radar, then rotate the Raw Data using the Rotation arrows on the Mini Control, or by typing a positive or negative value into the dialogue box:

     

  9. When the Raw Data is correctly superimposed over the background image, click the Save button. It is now aligned:

Whenever the radar rotation is changed, you will need to capture/recapture a new Clutter Floor: . If you are using a , this will need to be adjusted. It is recommended that you create a Contour Area after alignment.

Video

Here is a video demonstrating how to align a radar:

Safety is everything.