{"id":2885282,"date":"2025-07-21T11:08:23","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T18:08:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2885282"},"modified":"2025-07-22T15:45:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T22:45:08","slug":"streamlining-obstacle-assessment-workflows-in-arcgis-for-safer-airports-webinar-qa","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/transportation\/streamlining-obstacle-assessment-workflows-in-arcgis-for-safer-airports-webinar-qa","title":{"rendered":"Streamlining Obstacle Assessment Workflows in ArcGIS for Safer Airports Webinar Q&A"},"author":349902,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[23351],"tags":[763042,769032,762382],"industry":[],"product":[36561],"class_list":["post-2885282","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-transportation","tag-arcgis-aviation","tag-arcgis-aviation-airports","tag-aviation","product-arcgis-pro"],"acf":{"short_description":"Watch the Streamlining Obstacle Assessment Workflows in ArcGIS for Safer Airports Webinar recording and view the question and answer.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"kaltura","video_id":"1_jd4bpq6z","time":false,"start":0,"stop":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

On June 18, 2025, we held a webinar on\u202fStreamlining Obstacle Assessment Workflows in ArcGIS for Safer Airports.<\/em><\/p>\n

A safe environment for aircraft operations requires that airspace around the airport be clear and free of obstacles. In this recording, we share workflows for how civil aviation authorities (CAAs) and airports can gather digital data on obstacles around airports, analyze them according to industry standards, and involve stakeholders throughout the process using workflow management tools.<\/p>\n

You can now watch the webinar recording and explore our Q&A from the live session in this blog. If you cannot find the answers you were looking for, please post your questions on the\u202fArcGIS Aviation Esri Community<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How easy is it to integrate an external database like Oracle or SQLServer in order to bring the data that we’ve already collected into the demonstrated workflow?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Data from Oracle or SQLServer databases can be registered with the data store in an ArcGIS Enterprise system like the one that was demonstrated.\u00a0 More information can be found here: <\/span>Registering Your Data with ArcGIS Server using ArcGIS for Desktop<\/span><\/a>. There may be some additional configuration required to ensure that all of the components of the system work properly together.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Does the Create Aviation Communication, Navigational, and Surveillance (CNS) Surfaces tool include wind turbine objects?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

The Create Aviation Communication, Navigational, and Surveillance Surfaces tool<\/a> creates surfaces specific to communication, navigation, and surveillance facilities according to ICAO EUR DOC 15. The surfaces can be used for analysis with wind turbine objects (and any other type of potential obstacle).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Is this solution web-only? For example, if I construct CNS surfaces, is the information about the equipment stored online or locally?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

ArcGIS supports several deployment patterns.\u00a0 The surfaces you create can be stored locally, in ArcGIS Online (secure SaaS cloud environment) or ArcGIS Enterprise (stored securely using your organization\u2019s security configuration).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the webinar’s demo workflow, was the email notification generated via Power Automate?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Although emails can be generated with Power Automate, in this demonstration, the email is generated by a notification step in ArcGIS Workflow Manager. Here’s a link to the documentation for more information on configuring emails with Workflow Manager: Configure Email Settings<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Does the solution include additional styles or layouts for figures\/charts\/visualization?\u00a0 Does it include a standard database schema?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Yes, ArcGIS Aviation Airports includes a data package that contains style files, sample configurations, a data model, and some utilities to help get started. For more information on the product files, visit Download and Install Product Files Airports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Are the surfaces created by the Aviation tools, TINs, 3D Polygons, or multi-patch?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The obstruction surface creation tools in ArcGIS Aviation output either multipatch or 3D polygon features. The polygon output tends to be better suited for creating chart products like Aerodrome Obstacle Charts. The multipatch features are better suited for 3D visualization and analysis.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I’m interested in learning more about ArcGIS Aviation Airports and ArcGIS Aviation Charting.\u00a0 Are there other resources, such as training couses and reference materials?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Last year, we held a webinar focused more on the ArcGIS Aviation Airports product. Here is a link<\/a> to the recording.<\/p>\n

For information on the ArcGIS Aviation Charting product, visit the product page<\/a> or see some of our videos here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you have questions, post them on the ArcGIS Aviation place<\/a> within the Esri Community.<\/p>\n

For specific questions about training, please contact us directly at aero@esri.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Can the evaluation of obstacles after submission in ArcGIS Survey123 be automated?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Most of the steps of the workflow shown during the demonstration can be automated.\u00a0 ArcGIS is built in a way that enables a web service driven approach where individual steps\/tasks in the workflow can be automated. For the automatic evaluation of obstacles, you will need to publish the Geoprocessing tool as a GP service that can be used by ArcGIS Workflow Manager and included in the design of the workflow. The specific architecture and configuration will depend on your requirements.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Are the obstructions in the system all generated in-house or are there outside sources that the system being demonstrated ingests and displays?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The obstructions shown during the demonstration were captured using Survey123, but the system can leverage other sources of obstruction data as well.\u00a0 For example, FAA’s Digital Obstacle File and AIXM-based obstacle data can be directly imported into the geodatabase.\u00a0 Other formats of obstacle data can be imported using\u00a0 data loading tools, or referenced as feature services as well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Can you run the obstacle analyses using custom surfaces?\u00a0 For example, surfaces from FAA Order 8260.3 (TERPS)?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Yes, we support custom surfaces in two ways.\u00a0 First, ArcGIS Aviation Airports includes a utility called that allows users to override the default parameters used by the obstacle surface creation tools.\u00a0 This way, you can create surfaces that may differ from the standard specifications to use for analysis.\u00a0 Second you can perform analysis on custom built surfaces by importing them into the geodatabase as multipatch features.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Can you describe the steps needed to create the airfield web map in the survey?\u00a0 Is it possible to support many airports with the same web map and survey (i.e. for a whole state)?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The webmap in the ArcGIS Survey123 requires a few steps to implement. In this case, the process was to create airfield data, publish as services, and add to a web map that\u2019s used by Survey123.\u00a0 Yes, we can support multiple airports with the same web map, but an important consideration is choosing a coordinate system that\u2019s appropriate.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once a workflow is established, can it be protected so that users who may be managing survey results aren’t able to change the workflow?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Workflows are designed by users with appropriate permissions set by the organization. The design of workflows can be updated, however only by authorized individuals. If a workflow is updated, then it can be pushed to any existing jobs if desired. Stakeholders in an active job are not allowed to change workflows.<\/p>\n

For more information on user privileges, view the documentation for Users, groups, roles, and privileges<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Is there a guide that walks through the process of creating the inner approach terrain and profile data?\u00a0 Are there any initiatives to improve the usability of these tools and workflows.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The best resources for getting started is the online help documentation<\/a> and recordings of past webinars<\/a>.\u00a0 Additionally, we offer technical exchange workshops and an intro training course that covers the basics of ArcGIS Aviation Airports.\u00a0 We are always trying to improve the usability and intuitiveness of our tools so user feedback is helpful.\u00a0 One approach that has helped some users in the past is using Python or Model Builder to automate some of the workflows.<\/p>\n

For more information on the technical exchange workshops, please email us directly at aero@esri.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Is Esri planning to support the new FAA AAM\/Heliport specification due out this year?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Yes. We strive to ensure our tools support the latest specifications as they become available.\u00a0 For example, we recently added support for the new OES\/OFS surfaces described in ICAO Annex 14.\u00a0 We also have support for vertiport surfaces as described in FAA’s Engineering Brief 105A on our roadmap as well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Additional Resources: <\/strong><\/h4>\n