GOMetrics
Navigating Aircraft through Safer 4-Dimensional Space

To demonstrate how targeted geospatial data can improve performance and safety for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and other aircraft operations, Florian Hafner founded GOMetrics in 2013. With years of experience in the aerospace industry, he saw a need for providing unambiguous and easy-to-use visual information to experienced and novice operators. Embracing cloud-based technology and data analytics, Hafner geared toward helping pilots design better and safer flight plans, routes, and operating areas for aircraft by significantly reducing their requirement for collecting and interpreting information. “Rather than providing pilots with layered sets of data, we integrate the information in our platform and provide an aggregated real-time 4-D environment tailored to meet specific operational requirements,” delineates Hafner, CEO and Founder of GOMetrics.

The company is a technology startup that focuses on providing geospatial data analytics and data integration services for the aviation industry. “At GOMetrics, we try to integrate information from a user-centric perspective and provide a meaningful common operating picture. We basically track 4-D objects and threats relevant to your operation,” adds Hafner. Using web services and a distributed cloud-computing platform, the company processes relevant information for specific operations and makes it available to users in aggregated, operations specific data streams that can be used in client and mobile apps or via web-based mapping applications.

GOSky, the cloud-computing platform developed by GOMetrics, focuses on intelligence integration capabilities for aviation customers. The platform processes, stores, and integrates data sources that affect commercial, military, UAS, and other aircraft operations. The tracked objects can be terrestrial points like obstructions and power lines or volumes that represent air traffic sectors, weather, and general no fly zones. On the whole, the company obtains geospatial information and turns it into threat or hazard volumes for integration. This normalized data is then processed and sent to users based on their specific operational requirements. “Our platform downloads and processes every kind of geospatial data that would be of value to aircraft operators in avoiding threats,” explains Hafner.

The GOSky platform provides a first rate information aggregation mechanism that is configurable based on user-driven operational profiles. Users can also send custom data to the platform using web services for integration into the 4-D environment, which is tuned specifically to their pilot’s needs.

“Our focus is on providing a centralized platform that gives flight or mission planners a common operating picture and visual environment for better and safer decision making,” says Hafner. For instance, farmers could use GOSky to plan routes that avoid water towers, power lines, and other hazard areas while flying crop planes or UASs. For military or commercial UAS operators, GOSky can help design routes that consider weather, air defense systems, and other menaces.

Our focus is on providing a centralized platform that gives flight or mission planners a common operating picture and visual environment for better and safer decision making

Currently, GOMetrics’ core platform is in beta stage and is being used for visualization purposes geared towards airport and airspace planning. “We are currently exploring various partnerships with application developers focused on providing UAS flight and mission planning services,” says Hafner.

To stay ahead of the competition, the company understands the present operational challenges and opportunities in the market. “GOMetrics provides a unique platform with a focus on user driven data that is sustainable in the industry,” says Hafner. While GOMetrics initially intends to provide geospatial data integration services focused on UAS operations, the core platform can be used for route planning and optimization in other industries and operations as well. “In the days to come, there will be follow on applications to our product offerings focused on other geographies and industries such as marine and terrestrial transportation,” concludes Hafner.