[amsat-bb] Re: satellite los footprints

[Gus]

I would suggest you go with #1 or #2.  The added complexity of method #3 
probably won't pay any significant dividends in practical terms.  You 
could always implement #3 for version II. :-)

Will you be considering squint?  Frankly, I'm not sure any current 
satellites are using antennas where squint would play a part.

Regards...

On 03/25/2013 11:15 AM, Joseph Armbruster wrote:
> I can not decide how to implement ground footprints with my google earth satellite tracker.  I figured, since I can't make up my mind, I should get a second (and third, and fourth) opinion.  For this thread, I would like to discuss how satellite ground-footprints should be implemented.  A quick brainstorm led me to three possible implementations (I am leaning towards 3).  For each of these, I assume that a geographic line-of-sight footprint is desired with no RF characteristics taken into consideration:
>
> option 1 : assume a spherical earth model and project a polygon downwards towards the footprint
>
> - note: this is obviously the easiest approach but will result in the most error
>
> option 2 : assume an ellipsoidal earth model and project an irregularly shaped polygon downwards towards the footprint
>
> - note: this is arguably more difficult than option 1 and would result in less error
>
> option 3 : use a digital elevation model and an ellipsoidal model to cull-out regions that are not visible due to geographic features and project an irregularly shaped polygon downwards towards the footprint
>
> - note: In this case, our footprint polygon would have holes cut out for the regions that are culled out by mountain ranges, canyons / etc...  Obviously, this would be the most difficult to implement but would likely be the best visual representation.  The problem is, I would never dream of distributing DEMs for the entire Earth with my tool, even DTED0 would be absurd in my opinion.  I could make the elevation queries accessible using a web-service, but then the user would be tied to the internet.  The other option would be to allow the users to download their elevation data into a cache, then the tool would just load / use it.  This way the user would only have to obtain the elevation data for their region of interest.  Maybe that would be the best approach?  I am open to suggestions!
>
> If you have any experience visualizing footprints, please let me know.  I would be interested in hearing your lessons-learned.  These are what the line-of-sight indicators look like right now:  Google Earth Satellite Tracker - Line of Sight Update
>
> I am open to comments and suggestions,
> Joseph Armbruster
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-- 
73, de Gus 8P6SM
Barbados, the easternmost isle.