Development of a Graphical User Interface for the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operation’s Portable Airspace Management Concept

Abstract

Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) have emerged as a critical tool in modern wildland firefighting operations, providing real-time data collection, mapping, and communication capabilities in areas that may be difficult or dangerous for crewed aircraft to access. Effective integration of UAS into these high-stakes environments requires structured airspace management systems capable of supporting real-time coordination and situational awareness. Building on the foundational concepts of NASA Ames Research Center’s UAS Traffic Management (UTM) system, the following describes the development of a graphical user interface for the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) project, focusing on Second Shift Capabilities (SSC), designed for low-visibility conditions. The user interface (UI) integrates data from multiple sources to support airspace management, coordination, and deconfliction. Drawing upon lessons learned from NASA’s Scalable Traffic Management for Emergency Response Operations (STEReO) research activity, the ACERO team developed a robust, field-ready research prototype informed by a structured systems engineering process. Here, we trace the buildup of the UI from high-level systems engineering requirements to its field-ready prototype which was evaluated during a Spring 2025 field demonstration.

Keywords: Wildland firefighting, Airspace management, Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS), ACERO

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006860