Calculating Dependent Surveillance Update Rates by Modeling the Time-dependence of Information Value

The time-dependence of information has historically been managed though manual procedures, typically developed heuristically, specifying how frequently or under what conditions aging information should be refreshed. In the design of Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS) applications, when aircraft should automatically broadcast state information (e.g., position, velocity, or intent) must be addressed more rigorously. To answer questions about how frequently or under what conditions aging information should be updated, when the cost of seeking information must be accounted, a novel model of time-dependent information value is developed for a class of proceduralized decision problems, common in aviation. The model combines elements of classic, time-invariant information value theory, which is incapable of modeling the relationship between information value and information age, with estimation techniques. The time-dependent information value model is applied to investigate the rate at which aircraft should broadcast state information in an ADS environment. Results are presented for aircraft flying on parallel trajectories as well as on crossing trajectories. Results also provide general insight into the time-dependence of information value and its implications on information management processes.