Graphic applications for spectrum management using personal computers

Recent technological advances have made it possible to develop cost-effective computer graphics tools for spectrum management using personal computers. To illustrate this, two applications which have been recently implemented at the Canadian Department of Communications are described. The first application overlays microwave data from the licensing database into digitized maps. This assists radio engineers in planning future microwave systems. The second application automatically draws earth station coordination contours, thus eliminating a tedious and manual process. These applications are called the Microwave Environment Display System (MEDS) and the Earth Station Coordination Contour Display System (CONTOUR), respectively. Based on experience with these application, it appears that the major cost is associated with the application program development and not the hardware. It is suggested that this investment can be protected by selecting a computer graphics language like GKS which is an international standard and is designed to be portable from one installation to another