{"id":2507012,"date":"2024-11-21T07:00:57","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T15:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2507012"},"modified":"2024-11-18T12:40:14","modified_gmt":"2024-11-18T20:40:14","slug":"just-landed-the-hlz-suitability-solution","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-solutions\/defense\/just-landed-the-hlz-suitability-solution","title":{"rendered":"Just landed: the HLZ Suitability solution"},"author":318082,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[24641,776832,24371],"tags":[776792,776782,776822,776812,776802],"industry":[],"product":[42661],"class_list":["post-2507012","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-defense","category-emergency-management","category-public-safety","tag-helicopter-landing-zones","tag-hlz","tag-rotary-aircraft","tag-rotary-aviation","tag-wildfire-support","product-arcgis-solutions"],"acf":{"short_description":"HLZ Suitability helps defense and emergency management organizations identify areas suitable for helicopter landing zones.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

ArcGIS Solutions helps you make the most of your GIS by providing purpose-driven, industry-specific configurations of ArcGIS.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Rotary aircraft\u2014helicopters to the <\/span>layperson<\/span>\u2014are agile forms of transportation, <\/span>well-known<\/span> for their ability to maneuver with precision in a three-dimensional space. In fact, their agility is precisely why they are deployed by both the military and emergency services when a quick response is crucial, such as to evacuate casualties, offer wildfire support, provide humanitarian assistance, or support military offensive operations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, these critical deployments are frequently to isolated areas, far from established heliports or airfields. Therefore, to reach maximum efficiency, helicopters must be able to land at and take off from a range of environments, which means that geospatial staff must be able to quickly identify safe and effective helicopter landing zones (HLZ).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This November, ArcGIS Solutions released HLZ Suitability, a solution designed to help defense and emergency management organizations identify and understand these locations. Included with ArcGIS, this solution can be deployed to your ArcGIS Online account or ArcGIS Enterprise portal and then downloaded for use in ArcGIS Pro or ArcGIS AllSource.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Improving operational planning<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Your <\/span>organization’s<\/span> geospatial team can use the <\/span>solution’s<\/span> ArcGIS Pro project to identify and assess terrain suitable for helicopter landing zones (HLZ) per operational standards, create HLZ candidate locations, and share HLZ map products with staff.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Assess terrain for HLZ suitability<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Three primary factors impact the suitability of terrain for HLZs: land cover, ground slope, and obstacles. The solution guides you through assessing each of these factors.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not all land cover is suitable for an HLZ; forests, urban areas, and waterbodies are problematic at best and more likely prohibitive. Additionally, helicopters have ground slope limits, with the maximum degree varying slightly depending on the aircraft. Using preconfigured raster functions, you can reclassify land cover and elevation datasets to areas that are acceptable, acceptable with caution, or unacceptable. These raster functions account for a variety of different data sources and operational standards, such as military doctrine and wildfire response standards, but you can also use your own data schema or define your acceptability criteria.<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2524122,"id":2524122,"title":"nlcd","filename":"nlcd.jpg","filesize":352954,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/nlcd.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-solutions\/defense\/just-landed-the-hlz-suitability-solution\/nlcd","alt":"Map with land cover data and raster function pane","author":"251792","description":"","caption":"The HLZ Suitability project provides raster functions specific to different land cover datasets and operational standards.","name":"nlcd","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2507012,"date":"2024-10-08 14:35:12","modified":"2024-10-08 14:38:56","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1451,"height":816,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/nlcd-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/nlcd.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/nlcd.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/nlcd.jpg","large-width":1451,"large-height":816,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/nlcd.jpg","1536x1536-width":1451,"1536x1536-height":816,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/nlcd.jpg","2048x2048-width":1451,"2048x2048-height":816,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/nlcd-826x465.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/nlcd.jpg","wide_image-width":1451,"wide_image-height":816}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Although <\/span><\/span>it’s<\/span><\/span> possible for <\/span>l<\/span>and cover and ground slope <\/span>to be <\/span>classified <\/span>as acceptable with caution<\/span>, o<\/span>bstacles such as cell towers, <\/span>agricultural equipment<\/span>, and energy infrastructure <\/span>are more prohibitive<\/span>. <\/span>The<\/span> <\/span>solution’s<\/span><\/span> ArcGIS Pro project<\/span> allows<\/span> you to<\/span> identify<\/span> these features using<\/span> data from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, <\/span>by <\/span>load<\/span>ing<\/span> other obstacle datasets, or <\/span>by digitizing<\/span> your own obstacle features<\/span>. <\/span>Then, <\/span>you can create <\/span>obstacle offset buffers at either the standard 10:1 offset ratio or your own custom offset ratio<\/span>. <\/span>These <\/span>buffers <\/span>will help clearly <\/span>identify<\/span> areas <\/span>where obstacles pose a risk to helicopter operations<\/span> and <\/span>should <\/span>therefore be avoided.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

After you have assessed <\/span>land<\/span> cove<\/span>r<\/span> and <\/span>ground slope and <\/span>generated<\/span> obstacle buffers<\/span>, you can <\/span>create an overall HLZ <\/span>suitability <\/span>raster layer<\/span> that<\/span> depicts areas that are acceptable, acceptable with risk, <\/span>or that include <\/span>obstacle interference<\/span>. Th<\/span>is<\/span> raster layer<\/span> provides a great overview of<\/span> these conditions<\/span>, but <\/span>the solution <\/span>can take <\/span>your review <\/span>even further<\/span> by allowing you to <\/span>remove<\/span> locations that do not meet the <\/span>minimum<\/span> military and wildfire <\/span>aircraft<\/span> area requirements<\/span> from the overlay<\/span>. <\/span>Additionally,<\/span> the<\/span> solution can <\/span>generate <\/span>a reference tessellation grid<\/span> to <\/span>help you visually review and assess if areas meet your <\/span>aircraft<\/span> requirements<\/span>. You can also <\/span>upload imagery and soil data to help you visually inspect and review if locations are acceptable for HLZs.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2521782,"id":2521782,"title":"nlcd","filename":"assess-1.jpg","filesize":257051,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/assess-1.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-solutions\/defense\/just-landed-the-hlz-suitability-solution\/assess-1","alt":"Map with land cover data and raster function pane","author":"318082","description":"","caption":"The HLZ Suitability project allows analysts to process land cover, elevation, and obstacle data to create HLZ suitability overlays.","name":"assess-1","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2507012,"date":"2024-10-07 21:40:11","modified":"2024-10-08 14:57:24","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1035,"height":663,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/assess-1-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/assess-1.jpg","medium-width":407,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/assess-1.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":492,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/assess-1.jpg","large-width":1035,"large-height":663,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/assess-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1035,"1536x1536-height":663,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/assess-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1035,"2048x2048-height":663,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/assess-1-726x465.jpg","card_image-width":726,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/assess-1.jpg","wide_image-width":1035,"wide_image-height":663}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Create candidate locations<\/span><\/h3>\n

Rotary aircraft vary significantly in size, speed, and maneuverability, so a minimally viable HLZ is not one size fits all. For example, in military operations, a CH-47 Chinook helicopter requires a minimum landing zone diameter of 80 meters, but a Type 3 wildfire response helicopter only requires a <\/span>23-meter<\/span> one. The <\/span>solution’s<\/span> ArcGIS Pro project accounts for these differences by including various aircraft types in its feature editing templates and reference tables. After assessing terrain suitability, you can create candidate HLZ locations specific to your <\/span>organization’s<\/span> aircraft and operational requirements.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2521792,"id":2521792,"title":"create 1","filename":"create-1.jpg","filesize":274846,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/create-1.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-solutions\/defense\/just-landed-the-hlz-suitability-solution\/create-1","alt":"A map with green honeycomb polygons overlaid in yellow and the ArcGIS Pro Tasks pane open on the right.","author":"318082","description":"","caption":"Feature templates enable analysts to create HLZ features specific to aircraft requirements.","name":"create-1","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2507012,"date":"2024-10-07 21:40:46","modified":"2024-10-07 21:47:14","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1157,"height":657,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/create-1-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/create-1.jpg","medium-width":460,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/create-1.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":436,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/create-1.jpg","large-width":1157,"large-height":657,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/create-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1157,"1536x1536-height":657,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/create-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1157,"2048x2048-height":657,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/create-1-819x465.jpg","card_image-width":819,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/create-1.jpg","wide_image-width":1157,"wide_image-height":657}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Disseminate HLZ map products<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Once <\/span>you’ve<\/span> completed your analysis and have identified HLZs suitable for your <\/span>organization’s<\/span> aircraft, you have several options for sharing the information directly from ArcGIS Pro or ArcGIS AllSource with operations staff members or leadership. For example, you can publish and share services through your ArcGIS Online organization or ArcGIS Enterprise portal. These services can then be added to planning or operations applications that can be leveraged by the entire operations team. You can also create a map layout in ArcGIS Pro that can be shared as a PDF file or even printed and distributed to aircraft personnel or HLZ managers. With this shared information, you can effectively break down information silos and improve overall unit effectiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2521802,"id":2521802,"title":"sharing 1","filename":"sharing-1.jpg","filesize":336873,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-1.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-solutions\/defense\/just-landed-the-hlz-suitability-solution\/sharing-1","alt":"A map layout in ArcGIS Pro showing areas of HLZ suitability rated acceptable or acceptable with caution.","author":"318082","description":"","caption":"The ArcGIS project includes a layout template for sharing HLZ analysis and data.","name":"sharing-1","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2507012,"date":"2024-10-07 21:41:14","modified":"2024-10-07 21:47:14","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":930,"height":809,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-1-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-1.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-1.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":668,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-1.jpg","large-width":930,"large-height":809,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":930,"1536x1536-height":809,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":930,"2048x2048-height":809,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-1-535x465.jpg","card_image-width":535,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-1.jpg","wide_image-width":930,"wide_image-height":809}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Taking off<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Rotary aircraft are essential to a wide range of organizations\u2014domestic and international defense, wildfire response, emergency management, search and rescue, and nongovernmental, to name a few\u2014but without accurate information about suitable landing zones, these aircraft are essentially grounded. The HLZ Suitability solution can help you get the information you need to quickly identify these suitable landing zones, thereby enabling continued rotary aviation operations in support of your <\/span>organization’s<\/span> larger mission and objectives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Learn more<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

For more information about the HLZ Suitability solution, check out the following resources:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n