Smart Surveillance of Runway Conditions

Runway safety-related accidents represent the most significant source of aviation accidents worldwide. Runway contaminants are typically associated with extreme weather conditions but can also include other safety-issues such as foreign object debris, cracks, and pavement deformation. Although airports are required to perform periodic runway inspections, it is clear that manual inspections alone are not sufficient to mitigate this type of threat. The paper outlines the need to implement automated procedures for runway inspections, seeking to improve runway safety.