Abstract: A system includes a first sensor positioned to sense presence of a contrail in a first volume, wherein the first volume at least partially overlaps an expected volume of a contrail proximate an aircraft. A second sensor is positioned to sense a background reference in a second volume, where the second volume does not overlap the expected volume of a contrail proximate an aircraft. A controller is operatively connected to the first and second sensors. The controller includes machine readable instructions configured to cause the controller to utilize data input from both the first and second volumes to determine if a contrail is present from the aircraft. A system includes machine readable instructions configured to cause the controller to predict persistence of contrails on an intended route through the volume of airspace and to determine an improved route and/or propulsion operation to reduce contrail formation and persistence relative to the intended route.

Abstract: The data village system (DVS) comprises an interactive computer system and software that enables a user to establish a data model that defines an organizational structure for an organization's data and that enforces the user's rules as to how the organization's data is manipulated and viewed. The data model for any organization, in its simplest form, consists of tables for receiving related datums, compartments of tables for receiving associated datums, and cables which connect tables thereby indicating linkages between datums in different tables. This basic conceptual underpinning can be expanded to groupings of linked tables into rooms, groupings of linked rooms into houses, and groupings of linked houses into data villages, a data village corresponding to the organization to which the data model pertains. The DVS provides the means for a user to define a data model for an organization in terms of compartments, tables, rooms, houses, and the interconnecting cables.