Schiphol’s Notifly app gives people living in the area around Schiphol an insight into current and expected air traffic at their location. As of this week, the app is providing air traffic predictions for even more places around Schiphol thanks to the addition of a new forecasting method. People living in the area between The Hague, Utrecht and Alkmaar can now also make use of Notifly.
Notifly has started using a new forecasting method called grid-based predictions. By laying a grid over Schiphol and the surrounding area, Notifly’s algorithm can calculate the expected air traffic for each square on the map. This makes the forecasts more reliable and it’s easier to expand the app’s operating range.
Insight from Utrecht to Alkmaar
The operating range now includes the area between The Hague, Utrecht and Alkmaar. Residents of Heiloo, Katwijk, Zandvoort, Weesp, Vleuten, Purmerend and many other places can now make use of Notifly too.
The map shows the app’s operating range before and after the update. Previous operating range of Notifly (blue) and new operating range using grid based predictions (pink).
Predicting air traffic
Schiphol wants to keep local residents as well informed as possible by providing air traffic predictions. To make the Notifly forecasts as accurate as possible, the app uses a special algorithm. It contains a variety of data, including radar data and information about wind and other weather conditions (KNMI). The algorithm searches the data for comparable conditions for the date and time for which a prediction is required. The algorithm then compares the prediction with the number of aircraft flying overhead. Notifly’s algorithm is self-learning, meaning that forecasts will keep on getting better.
