Generating Live Heatmaps of EDR Data through a Spatiotemporal Weighting

Authors

• Joel T. Williams, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
• C. Sean Bohun, Ontario Tech University
• Alberto Fornaci, International Air Transport Association (IATA)
• Michael R. Lindstrom, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-2-2026

Abstract

This paper introduces a novel method for generating live heatmaps of eddy dissipation rate (EDR) data through a spatiotemporal weighting designed to enhance turbulence visualization in aviation. As more flight data become available, approaches relying solely on in-flight EDR measurements have the potential to accurately nowcast and visualize turbulence with low computational cost. The proposed method significantly improves the turbulence visualization capabilities of common commercial aircraft. This is particularly valuable for pilot decision-making and trip planning, enhancing flight safety and operational efficiency. This approach also incorporates an innovative uncertainty threshold, which refrains from predicting when there are insufficient data, thereby maintaining higher reliability in the nowcasts. Validation through K-fold cross-validation demonstrates the robustness and accuracy of our method, making it a promising tool for real-time turbulence monitoring.

Comments

Copyright © 2026 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved.

Recommended Citation

Williams, J.T., Bohun, C.S., Fornaci, A. and Lindstrom, M.R., 2026. Generating Live Heatmaps of Eddy Dissipation Rate Data Through a Spatiotemporal Weighting. Journal of Aircraft, pp.1-8. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.C038894

Publication Title

Journal of Aircraft

DOI

10.2514/1.C038894