ADS-B data parser for flightradar24

[jaimebw]

Hello Xavier, I was wondering if you would be interested in adding a parser for the ads-b data coming from flightradar24. I have been working with their historical data for the last couple of months and I wouldn't mind trying to create an implementation for the Traffic library. Basically, the data from flightradar24 comes in two .csv files:

• Positions: contains the timeseries (timestamp,flight_id,lat,long, heading, speed,altitude,squawk)
• Flights: contains the details of the flight ( flight_id, registration number, callsign, equip,...) I was thinking of adding a parser that would create a Traffic object like this:

  from traffic.core import Traffic
  traff = Traffic.from_file("flight_xxx_positions.csv","flight_xxx_flights.csv")

  or maybe create a custom method like:

  from traffic.core import Traffic
  traff = Traffic.from_flightradar24("flight_xxx_positions.csv","flight_xxx_flights.csv")

  I would give it a try if you think it can be a nice implementation, but I might ask you for some guidance during the process 😅

[xoolive]

Thank you for this suggestion, Yes this would be a good addition into the library. I am aware of the single CSV from the flight list page (the one with lat/lon in the same column of the csv file... 🙄 ) But I don't know where to get the other file...

I am quite busy on deepest sh... in the library and would appreciate the pull request if you have time for that. It should be actually very simple.

I would suggest to start with single Flights and an interface along:

from traffic.core import Flight
Flight.from_file("WB305_27da0904.csv")  # random one I just downloaded

So this would imply inferring the proper renaming from the column names present in the file.

If you know how to download batches (legally), then I am curious about a proper documented description.

Maybe the best way to start is to go as you are comfortable, open the PR, and we work from there together when it's ready?

[jaimebw]

I think that the way the data is structured depends on how much information is downloaded. The datasets I am working with contain all the info from a period of 3 months of all the ads-b receivers of the flighradar24 infrastructure. I have some documentation but I think I can't share that (confidentially agreements 😬). I will start with the simple .csv that you can download directly from flightradar24 cheapest premium account for the Flight class as you told me. I'll open a PR as soon as I have something working.

[xoolive]

Oh I see... Let's start with the info from basic and premium regular accounts @fr24 and then look into what's the standard way to get data with confidential agreement from there. I just would like to ensure this way is standard enough and that it can help other potential users.

[jaimebw]

Just opened the PR, hope it passes the tests! Should I add any further documentation on the function? I have kind of copyed the same structure that follows the from_file of the Traffic class

[xoolive]

I'll close it for now but if the fr24 API you use comes online, I have no objection to integrate it as well.