ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines a few mathematical techniques to track targets in three-dimensional (3D) using a two-dimensional (2D) radar. It presents some mathematical methods to infer aircraft altitude from two updates given by a single 2D radar. 2D radars are relatively cheap and efficient sensors that often form the first line of defence in airspace control. Depending on the threat evaluation of tracked aircraft, the tracking process is passed along to 3D search radars or fire control tracking radars once it comes within range of those sensors. Understanding the vertical activity of an aircraft enables airspace control to predict aircraft intent which means more accurate situation awareness. More complex turning manoeuvres in the flight path will naturally increase the error probability when detecting vertical manoeuvres and a bad first Altitude Approximation via Simple Case approximation might cause a scenario to have an average Altitude Approximation via Continuous Tracking height error that is above the average for the standard flight profile.
