# Uncertainty and accuracy

NIC, NAC, NUC, and SIL, those acronyms do sound confusing. They are categorical numbers for the integrity, accuracy, or uncertainties of the position measurements.

• NUCp: Navigation Uncertainty Category - Position

• Values: 0 - 9

• Version 0, 1, and 2

• NUCr: Navigation Uncertainty Category - Velocity (Rate)

• Values: 0 - 4

• Version 0

• NIC: Navigation Integrity Category

• Values: 0 - 11

• Version 1 and 2

• NACp: Navigation Accuracy Category - Position

• Values: 0 - 11

• Version 1 and 2

• NACv: Navigation Accuracy Category - Velocity

• Values: 0 - 4

• Version 1 and 2

• SIL: Surveillance Integrity Level

• Values: 0 - 3

• Version 1 and 2

For each category name, specific values are given corresponding to the numerical indicators. The relation of the category names and value names are:

• NUCp:

• Horizontal Protection Limit (HPL)

• 95% Containment Radius - Horizontal (RCu)

• 95% Containment Radius - Vertical (RCv)

• NUCr:

• 95% Horizontal Velocity Error (HVE)

• 95% Vertical Velocity Error (VVE)

• NIC:

• Horizontal Radius of Containment (RCu)

• Vertical Protection Limit (VPL)

• a.k.a. Integrity Containment Region

• NACp:

• 95% horizontal accuracy bounds, Estimated Position Uncertainty (EPU)

• a.k.a. Horizontal Figure of Merit (HFOM)

• 95% vertical accuracy bounds, Vertical Estimated Position Uncertainty (VEPU)

• a.k.a. Vertical Figure of Merit (VFOM)

• NACv:

• 95% horizontal accuracy bounds for velocity, Horizontal Figure of Merit (HFOMr)

• 95% vertical accuracy bounds for velocity, Vertical Figure of Merit (VFOMr)

• SIL:

• Probability of exceeding Horizontal Radius of Containment RCu (PE_RCu)

• Probability of exceeding Vertical Integrity Containment Region VPL (PE_VPL)

Depending on the ADS-B versions, the bits to uncover these values maybe different. We are going to address the uncertainty measures by ADS-B versions.

To understand about these versions, first take a look at the ADS-B version chapter.

## Version 0

### NUCp

In ADS-B Version 0, the accuracy is expressed as Navigation Uncertainty Category - position (NUCp). It is directly related (one-to-one relationship) with Type Code, as follows:

For surface position messages:

+------+---+----+----+----+---+
| TC   | 0 | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8 |
+------+---+----+----+----+---+
| NUCp | 0 | 9  | 8  | 7  | 6 |
+------+---+----+----+----+---+

For airborne position with barometric altitude:

+------+---+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| TC   | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
+------+---+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| NUCp | 9 | 8  | 7  | 6  | 5  | 4  | 3  | 2  | 1  | 0  |
+------+---+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+

For airborne position with GNSS altitude:

+------+------+------+-----+
| TC   |  20  |  21  | 22  |
+------+------+------+-----+
| NUCp |  9   |  8   | 0   |
+------+------+------+-----+

Higher number of NUCp represents a higher confidence of in the position measurement (hence, a lower uncertainty). Horizontal Protection Limit (HPL) and Radius of containment for horizontal (RCu) are used to quantify the uncertainty.

For surface position (TC=5-8):

+----+------+--------------------+---------------------+
| TC | NUCp | HPL                | RCu                 |
+====+======+====================+=====================+
| 5  |  9   | < 7.5 m            | < 3 m               |
+----+------+--------------------+---------------------+
| 6  |  8   | < 25 m             | < 10 m              |
+----+------+--------------------+---------------------+
| 7  |  7   | < 0.1 NM (185 m)   | < 0.05 NM (93 m)    |
+----+------+--------------------+---------------------+
| 8  |  6   | > 0.1 NM (185 m)   | > 0.05 NM (93 m)    |
+----+------+--------------------+---------------------+

For airborne position with barometric altitude (TC=9-18):

+------+------+--------------------+---------------------+
|  TC  | NUCp | HPL                | RCu                 |
+======+======+====================+=====================+
|  9   |  9   | < 7.5 m            | < 3 m               |
+------+------+--------------------+---------------------+
|  10  |  8   | < 25 m             | < 10 m              |
+------+------+--------------------+---------------------+
|  11  |  7   | < 0.1 NM (185 m)   | < 0.05 NM (93 m)    |
+------+------+--------------------+---------------------+
|  12  |  6   | < 0.2 NM (370 m)   | < 0.1 NM (185 m)    |
+------+------+--------------------+---------------------+
|  13  |  5   | < 0.5 NM (926 m)   | < 0.25 NM (463 m)   |
+------+------+--------------------+---------------------+
|  14  |  4   | < 1 NM (1852 m)    | < 0.5 NM (926 m)    |
+------+------+--------------------+---------------------+
|  15  |  3   | < 2 NM (3704 m)    | < 1 NM (1852 m)     |
+------+------+--------------------+---------------------+
|  16  |  2   | < 10 NM (18520 m)  | < 5 NM (9260 m)     |
+------+------+--------------------+---------------------+
|  17  |  1   | < 20 NM (37040 m)  | < 10 NM (18520 m)   |
+------+------+--------------------+---------------------+
|  18  |  0   | > 20 NM (37040 m)  | > 10 NM (18520 m)   |
+------+------+--------------------+---------------------+

In the case of airborne position with GNSS height (TC=20-22), HPL and RCu are defined slight differently. In addition, Radius of containment for vertical position (RCv) is added:

+------+------+----------+---------+---------+
|  TC  | NUCp | HPL      | RCu     | RCv     |
+======+======+==========+=========+=========+
|  20  |  9   | < 7.5 m  | < 3 m   | < 4 m   |
+------+------+----------+---------+---------+
|  21  |  8   | < 25 m   | < 10 m  | < 15 m  |
+------+------+----------+---------+---------+
|  22  |  0   | > 25 m   | > 10 m  | > 15 m  |
+------+------+----------+---------+---------+

### NUCv

The Navigation Uncertainty Category - velocity (NUCv) it is used to indicate the uncertainty of the horizontal and vertical speeds. Related bits are located at the airborne velocity message, TC=19, message bit 43-45 (or payload bit 11-13). It defines the 95% of the error in horizontal and vertical speed.

+------+-------------+------------------------+
| NUCp | HVE (95%)   | VVE (95%)              |
+======+=============+========================+
|  0   | unknown     | unknown                |
+------+-------------+------------------------+
|  1   | < 10 m/s    | < 15.2 m/s (50 pfs)    |
+------+-------------+------------------------+
|  2   | < 3 m/s     | < 4.5 m/s (15 fps)     |
+------+-------------+------------------------+
|  3   | < 1 m/s     | < 1.5 m/s (5 fps)      |
+------+-------------+------------------------+
|  4   | < 0.3 m/s   | < 0.46 m/s (1.5 fps)   |
+------+-------------+------------------------+

## Version 1

### NIC

In ADS-B Version 1, Navigation Integrity Category (NIC) is introduced to provide more levels of uncertainty definitions. The NUCp value is still kept, but has been moved to the new “operation status messages” (TC=31).

As for NIC, in Type Code: 7 and 11, two NIC levels present in each code. In order to distinguish these two different levels, a NIC Supplement Bit (NICs) is introduced in “operation status messages” TC=31 (message bit 76 or payload bit 44). The relation of TC, NIC, and Rc are list in following tables.

For surface position (TC=5-8)

+------+--------+-------+-----------------------+
|  TC  | NICs   |  NIC  | Rc                    |
+======+========+=======+=======================+
|  5   | 0      |  11   | < 7.5 m               |
+------+--------+-------+-----------------------+
|  6   | 0      |  10   | < 25 m                |
+------+--------+-------+-----------------------+
|  7   | 1      |  9    | < 75 m                |
|      +--------+-------+-----------------------+
|      | 0      |  8    | < 0.1 NM (185 m)      |
+------+--------+-------+-----------------------+
|  8   | 0      |  0    | > 0.1 NM or Unknown   |
+------+--------+-------+-----------------------+

For airborne position with barometric altitude (TC=9-18):

+----+--------+-----+--------------------+----------+
| TC | NICs   | NIC | Rc                 | VPL      |
+====+========+=====+====================+==========+
| 9  | 0      | 11  | < 7.5 m            | < 11 m   |
+----+--------+-----+--------------------+----------+
| 10 | 0      | 10  | < 25 m             | < 37.5 m |
+----+--------+-----+--------------------+----------+
| 11 | 1      | 9   | < 75 m             | < 112 m  |
|    +--------+-----+--------------------+----------+
|    | 0      | 8   | < 0.1 NM (185 m)   |          |
+----+--------+-----+--------------------+----------+
| 12 | 0      | 7   | < 0.2 NM (370 m)   |          |
+----+--------+-----+--------------------+----------+
| 13 | 0      | 6   | < 0.5 NM (926 m)   |          |
|    +--------+     +--------------------+----------+
|    | 1      |     | < 0.6 NM (1111 m)  |          |
+----+--------+-----+--------------------+----------+
| 14 | 0      | 5   | < 1.0 NM (1852 m)  |          |
+----+--------+-----+--------------------+----------+
| 15 | 0      | 4   | < 2 NM (3704 m)    |          |
+----+--------+-----+--------------------+----------+
| 16 | 1      | 3   | < 4 NM (7408 m)    |          |
|    +--------+-----+--------------------+----------+
|    | 0      | 2   | < 8 NM (14.8 km)   |          |
+----+--------+-----+--------------------+----------+
| 17 | 0      | 1   | < 20 NM (37.0 km)  |          |
+----+--------+-----+--------------------+----------+
| 18 | 0      | 0   | > 20 NM or Unknown |          |
+----+--------+-----+--------------------+----------+

In the case of airborne position with GNSS height (TC=20-22), Rc is defined slight differently:

+------+------+----------+----------+
|  TC  | NIC  | Rc       | VPL      |
+======+======+==========+==========+
|  20  | 11   | < 7.5 m  | < 11 m   |
+------+------+----------+----------+
|  21  | 10   | < 25 m   | < 37.5 m |
+------+------+----------+----------+
|  22  | 0    | > 25 m   | > 112 m  |
+------+------+----------+----------+

### NACp

In addition to NIC, Navigation Accuracy Category - Position (NACp) is also introduced int ADS-B Version 1. NACp can be found in:

• TC=29, target state and status message, message bit 72-75 (or payload bit 40-43)

• TC=31, operational status message, message bit 77-80 (or payload bit 45-48)

With NACp, one can find out the 95% horizontal and vertical accuracy bounds (EPU and VEPU, or HFOM and VFOM). NACp and NIC usually share the same value, and their values are closely related.

$\begin{split} \mathrm{EPU} &\approx \mathrm{Rc} / 2.5 \qquad \mathrm{NAC, NIC} \ge 9 \\ \mathrm{EPU} &\approx \mathrm{Rc} / 2.0 \qquad \mathrm{NAC, NIC} > 9 \end{split}$

For ADS-B, NACp is also indicated in the operational status messages (TC=31). NACp and corresponding EPU/VEPU are:

+------+--------------------+-------------+
| NACp | HFU (HFOM)         | VEPU (VFOM) |
+======+====================+=============+
|  11  | < 3 m              | < 4 m       |
+------+--------------------+-------------+
|  10  | < 10 m             | < 15 m      |
+------+--------------------+-------------+
|  9   | < 30 m             | < 45 m      |
+------+--------------------+-------------+
|  8   | < 0.05 NM (93 m)   |             |
+------+--------------------+-------------+
|  7   | < 0.1 NM (185 m)   |             |
+------+--------------------+-------------+
|  6   | < 0.3 NM (556 m)   |             |
+------+--------------------+-------------+
|  5   | < 0.5 NM (926 m)   |             |
+------+--------------------+-------------+
|  4   | < 1.0 NM (1852 m)  |             |
+------+--------------------+-------------+
|  3   | < 2 NM (3704 m)    |             |
+------+--------------------+-------------+
|  2   | < 4 NM (7408 m)    |             |
+------+--------------------+-------------+
|  1   | < 10 NM (18520 km) |             |
+------+--------------------+-------------+
|  0   | > 10 NM or Unknown |             |
+------+--------------------+-------------+

### NACv

The Navigation Accuracy Category - Velocity (NACv) is introduced in Version 1 to replace the NUCv from Version 0. The bits are located at the same location and have the same definitions of values. It can be found in airborne velocity message, TC=19, message bit 43-45 (or payload bit 11-13). It defines the 95% of the error in horizontal and vertical speed.

+------+-------------+------------------------+
| NAVc | HFOMr (95%) | VFOMr (95%)            |
+======+=============+========================+
|  0   | unknown     | unknown                |
+------+-------------+------------------------+
|  1   | < 10 m/s    | < 15.2 m/s (50 pfs)    |
+------+-------------+------------------------+
|  2   | < 3 m/s     | < 4.5 m/s (15 fps)     |
+------+-------------+------------------------+
|  3   | < 1 m/s     | < 1.5 m/s (5 fps)      |
+------+-------------+------------------------+
|  4   | < 0.3 m/s   | < 0.46 m/s (1.5 fps)   |
+------+-------------+------------------------+

### SIL

On the other hand, Surveillance Integrity Level (SIL) is introduced in Version 1 to indicate the probability of measurement exceeding the containment radius horizontally (PE_RCu) and vertically (PE_VPL).

SIL value can be found in two different locations:

• TC=29, target state and status message, message bit 77-78 (or payload bit 45-46)

• TC=31, operational status message, message bit 83-84 (or payload bit 51-52)

The definitions are as follows:

+-----+--------------------+--------------------+
| SIL | PE_RCu             | PE_VPL             |
+=====+====================+====================+
| 0   | unknown            | unknown            |
+-----+--------------------+--------------------+
| 1   | < 1 x 10^-3        | < 1 x 10^-3        |
+-----+--------------------+--------------------+
| 2   | < 1 x 10^-5        | < 1 x 10^-5        |
+-----+--------------------+--------------------+
| 3   | < 1 x 10^-7        | < 2 x 10^-7        |
+-----+--------------------+--------------------+

The unit for PE_RCu and PE_VPL is per hour or per sample.

## Version 2

### NIC

In ADS-B Version 2, levels of accuracies are further divided by two addition NIC supplement bits. In Version 2, we call them NIC Supplement Bit A (NICa), NIC Supplement Bit B (NICb), and NIC Supplement Bit C (NICc).

• NICa is in the same location as in ADS-B Version 1, which is located in the operational status message TC=31 (message bit 76 or payload bit 44).

• NICb is located in the airborne position message (TC=9-18, message bit 40 or payload bit 8), where the “single antenna flag” was located in previous ADS-B versions.

• NICc is also located in the operational status message TC=31 (message bit 52 or payload bit 20).

Gather the NIC supplement bits, together with the Type Code, accuracies are defined.

For surface possible message (TC=5-8), using TC, NICa, and NICc:

+------+------+------+-------+-----------------------+
|  TC  | NICa | NICc |  NIC  | Rc                    |
+======+======+======+=======+=======================+
|  5   | 0    | 0    |  11   | < 7.5 m               |
+------+------+------+-------+-----------------------+
|  6   | 0    | 0    |  10   | < 25 m                |
+------+------+------+-------+-----------------------+
|  7   | 1    | 0    |  9    | < 75 m                |
|      +------+------+-------+-----------------------+
|      | 0    | 0    |  8    | < 0.1 NM (185 m)      |
+------+------+------+-------+-----------------------+
|  8   | 1    | 1    |  7    | < 0.2 NM (370 m)      |
|      +------+------+-------+-----------------------+
|      | 1    | 0    |  6    | < 0.3 NM (556 m)      |
|      +------+------+       +-----------------------+
|      | 0    | 1    |       | < 0.6 NM (1111 m)     |
|      +------+------+-------+-----------------------+
|      | 0    | 0    |  0    | > 0.6 NM or Unknown   |
+------+------+------+-------+-----------------------+

For airborne possible message (TC=9-18), using TC, NICa, and NICc:

+----+------+------+-----+-----------------------+
| TC | NICa | NICb | NIC | Rc                    |
+====+======+======+=====+=======================+
| 9  | 0    | 0    | 11  | < 7.5 m               |
+----+------+------+-----+-----------------------+
| 10 | 0    | 0    | 10  | < 25 m                |
+----+------+------+-----+-----------------------+
| 11 | 1    | 1    | 9   | < 75 m                |
|    +------+------+-----+-----------------------+
|    | 0    | 0    | 8   | < 0.1 NM (185 m)      |
+----+------+------+-----+-----------------------+
| 12 | 0    | 0    | 7   | < 0.2 NM (370 m)      |
+----+------+------+-----+-----------------------+
| 13 | 0    | 1    | 6   | < 0.3 NM (556 m)      |
|    +------+------+     +-----------------------+
|    | 0    | 0    |     | < 0.5 NM (926 m)      |
|    +------+------+     +-----------------------+
|    | 1    | 1    |     | < 0.6 NM (1111 m)     |
+----+------+------+-----+-----------------------+
| 14 | 0    | 0    | 5   | < 1.0 NM (1852 m)     |
+----+------+------+-----+-----------------------+
| 15 | 0    | 0    | 4   | < 2 NM (3704 m)       |
+----+------+------+-----+-----------------------+
| 16 | 1    | 1    | 3   | < 4 NM (7408 m)       |
|    +------+------+-----+-----------------------+
|    | 0    | 0    | 2   | < 8 NM (14.8 km)      |
+----+------+------+-----+-----------------------+
| 17 | 0    | 0    | 1   | < 20 NM (37.0 km)     |
+----+------+------+-----+-----------------------+
| 18 | 0    | 0    | 0   | > 20 NM or Unknown    |
+----+------+------+-----+-----------------------+

In the case of airborne position with GNSS height (TC=20-22), the table remains the same as previous version.

+------+------+----------+
|  TC  | NIC  | Rc       |
+======+======+==========+
|  20  | 11   | < 7.5 m  |
+------+------+----------+
|  21  | 10   | < 25 m   |
+------+------+----------+
|  22  | 0    | > 25 m   |
+------+------+----------+

### NACp

NACp in Version 2 remains the same as in Version 1.

### NACv

NACv in Version 2 remains the same as in Version 1.

### SIL

In Version 2, an additional SIL supplement bit (SILs) is introduced to distinguish if the value is based on per flight hour or per sample.

The same as in Version 1, SIL value can be found in two different locations:

• TC=29, target state and status message, message bit 77-78 (or payload bit 45-46)

• TC=31, operational status message, message bit 83-84 (or payload bit 51-52)

SILs bit can also be found at two different locations:

• TC=29, target state and status message, message bit 40 (or payload bit 8)

• TC=31, operational status message, message bit 87 (or payload bit 55)

• SILs=0: probability is “per hour” based

• SILs=1: probability is “per sample” based

The same values from Version 1 are kept:

+-----+--------------------+--------------------+
| SIL | PE_RCu             | PE_VPL             |
+=====+====================+====================+
| 0   | unknown            | unknown            |
+-----+--------------------+--------------------+
| 1   | < 1 x 10^-3        | < 1 x 10^-3        |
+-----+--------------------+--------------------+
| 2   | < 1 x 10^-5        | < 1 x 10^-5        |
+-----+--------------------+--------------------+
| 3   | < 1 x 10^-7        | < 2 x 10^-7        |
+-----+--------------------+--------------------+

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