Aeronautical Data Requirements and Geodetic Data – a Case Study on Regulations in Poland

Purpose The purpose of this case study is to indicate discrepancies between the guidelines for aeronautical data quality requirements (DQR) and the legal regulations of surveying in Poland. Because of the possible difficulties in determining the original source of geodetic coordinates, it is possible for mistakes to be made, e.g. in aeronautical metadata. Design/methodology/approach The differences between selected reference data for the ASG-EUPOS network stations were determined and later extended to the entire country using the linear interpolation method. The values were investigated for exceeding the most restrictive limit on the DQR, i.e. 0.50 m for geodetic latitude and longitude and 0.25 m for measured height and geoid undulation. Findings The lack of an appropriate transformation of geodetic coordinates would result in an error of 0.30 m for the horizontal position, and <0.01 m for ellipsoidal heights. The discrepancies between the Earth Gravitational Model 96 (EGM96) geoid model used in aviation and Polish local quasigeoid model are up to 1 m. Practical implications Results prove that a mismatch of coordinate frames could be a severe threat to the aeronautical DQR. Providing complete information about reference systems during the data exchange, including the conversion parameters between selected geoid models, or considering a more accurate geoid model as a reference in aviation is recommended. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is perhaps the first to compare data quality guidelines for surveying and aviation.