Airspace Volumes API: CappedCylinder, Box, Route, Orbit

The gov.nasa.worldwind.render.airspaces package provides a set of volumetric 3D shapes designed for aviation airspace modelling. Unlike surface shapes, airspace shapes have explicit lower and upper altitude boundaries and are fully rendered as 3D solids with independently styled faces. All airspace shapes implement the Airspace interface, extend AbstractAirspace, and are rendered via an AirspaceLayer.

`Airspace` Interface

Airspace extends Renderable, Restorable, AVList, ExtentHolder, Highlightable, and Attributable. It provides the core altitude, datum, and rendering contract.

Airspace interface — key methods

public interface Airspace extends Renderable, Restorable, AVList, ExtentHolder,
                                   Highlightable, Attributable {

    // Draw style constants
    String DRAW_STYLE_FILL    = "Airspace.DrawStyleFill";
    String DRAW_STYLE_OUTLINE = "Airspace.DrawStyleOutline";

    // Visibility
    boolean isVisible();
    void    setVisible(boolean visible);

    // Attributes
    AirspaceAttributes getAttributes();
    void               setAttributes(AirspaceAttributes attributes);
    AirspaceAttributes getHighlightAttributes();
    void               setHighlightAttributes(AirspaceAttributes highlightAttrs);

    // Altitude bounds (metres)
    double[] getAltitudes();
    void     setAltitudes(double lowerAltitude, double upperAltitude);
    void     setAltitude(double altitude);          // sets both surfaces to same value

    // Altitude datum
    // Values: AVKey.ABOVE_MEAN_SEA_LEVEL | ABOVE_GROUND_LEVEL | ABOVE_GROUND_REFERENCE
    void     setAltitudeDatum(String lowerDatum, String upperDatum);
    String[] getAltitudeDatum();

    // Terrain-conforming shorthand (legacy)
    boolean[] isTerrainConforming();
    void      setTerrainConforming(boolean lower, boolean upper);

    // Ground reference location for ABOVE_GROUND_REFERENCE datum
    void   setGroundReference(LatLon groundReference);
    LatLon getGroundReference();

    // Rendering hints
    boolean isAlwaysOnTop();
    void    setAlwaysOnTop(boolean alwaysOnTop);

    boolean isDrawSurfaceShape();
    void    setDrawSurfaceShape(boolean drawSurfaceShape);

    // Batch rendering / picking (performance)
    boolean isEnableBatchRendering();
    void    setEnableBatchRendering(boolean enableBatchRendering);
    boolean isEnableBatchPicking();
    void    setEnableBatchPicking(boolean enableBatchPicking);

    // Depth offset (eliminates z-fighting with coincident faces)
    boolean isEnableDepthOffset();
    void    setEnableDepthOffset(boolean enableDepthOffset);

    // Pick width
    int  getOutlinePickWidth();
    void setOutlinePickWidth(int outlinePickWidth);

    // Extent queries
    Extent getExtent(Globe globe, double verticalExaggeration);
    Extent getExtent(DrawContext dc);

    // Delegate owner for picking
    Object getDelegateOwner();
    void   setDelegateOwner(Object delegateOwner);
}

Use AVKey.ABOVE_GROUND_LEVEL as an altitude datum to make both surfaces terrain-following. Use AVKey.ABOVE_GROUND_REFERENCE for flat horizontal surfaces whose elevation is offset by a single reference point — useful for building rooftops.

`AirspaceAttributes`

AirspaceAttributes extends ShapeAttributes. For new code, prefer the ShapeAttributes methods directly. The AirspaceAttributes-specific methods (getMaterial(), setMaterial(), getOpacity(), setOpacity(), applyInterior(), applyOutline()) are deprecated.

AirspaceAttributes — recommended usage

AirspaceAttributes attrs = new BasicAirspaceAttributes();

// Preferred: use ShapeAttributes methods
attrs.setDrawInterior(true);
attrs.setInteriorMaterial(new Material(new Color(0, 100, 255, 150)));
attrs.setInteriorOpacity(0.6);

attrs.setDrawOutline(true);
attrs.setOutlineMaterial(new Material(Color.WHITE));
attrs.setOutlineOpacity(1.0);
attrs.setOutlineWidth(1.5);

Concrete Airspace Types

`Box`

An oriented rectangular parallelepiped (box) defined by two LatLon leg endpoints, left and right widths, and lower/upper altitudes.

Box airspace

Box box = new Box(
    LatLon.fromDegrees(37.0, -122.0),
    LatLon.fromDegrees(38.0, -121.0),
    10000.0,   // left width (metres)
    10000.0    // right width (metres)
);
box.setAltitudes(1000.0, 6000.0);

`Cake`

A stack of CappedCylinder layers (tiers) sharing a common centre position. Useful for multi-floor TMA/CTR depictions.

Cake — stacked cylinder tiers

Cake cake = new Cake();
// Add tiers: each is a CappedCylinder-like layer
cake.addLayer(new Cake.Layer(30000, 40000, Angle.fromDegrees(0),
    Angle.fromDegrees(360), 1000, 3000));
cake.addLayer(new Cake.Layer(20000, 30000, Angle.fromDegrees(0),
    Angle.fromDegrees(360), 3000, 6000));
cake.setCenter(LatLon.fromDegrees(37.5, -122.0));

`CappedCylinder`

A full or partial cylinder with configurable inner and outer radii and angular sweep. The most commonly used airspace shape for CTRs, ATZs, and restricted areas.

CappedCylinder — full cylinder

CappedCylinder cyl = new CappedCylinder(
    LatLon.fromDegrees(37.5, -122.1), // centre
    50000.0                           // outer radius in metres
);
cyl.setInnerRadius(10000.0);          // hollow interior
cyl.setAltitudes(0.0, 9000.0);
cyl.setAltitudeDatum(AVKey.ABOVE_MEAN_SEA_LEVEL, AVKey.ABOVE_MEAN_SEA_LEVEL);

AirspaceAttributes a = new BasicAirspaceAttributes();
a.setInteriorMaterial(new Material(new Color(100, 180, 255, 120)));
a.setOutlineMaterial(new Material(Color.BLUE));
a.setDrawInterior(true);
a.setDrawOutline(true);
cyl.setAttributes(a);

`CappedEllipticalCylinder`

Like CappedCylinder but with independent semi-major and semi-minor axis radii, and a heading angle.

`Curtain`

A vertical planar surface defined by a path of LatLon positions. Lower and upper altitude boundaries form the top and bottom edges.

Curtain — vertical boundary fence

List<LatLon> path = Arrays.asList(
    LatLon.fromDegrees(37.0, -122.0),
    LatLon.fromDegrees(38.0, -121.0),
    LatLon.fromDegrees(39.0, -121.5)
);
Curtain curtain = new Curtain(path);
curtain.setAltitudes(0.0, 5000.0);

`Orbit`

A stadium (pill) shape defined by two LatLon end positions and a width. Suitable for holding patterns and corridor depictions.

Orbit — stadium-shaped corridor

Orbit orbit = new Orbit(
    LatLon.fromDegrees(37.0, -122.0),
    LatLon.fromDegrees(38.0, -121.0),
    Orbit.OrbitType.CENTER,   // CENTER | LEFT | RIGHT
    30000.0                   // width in metres
);
orbit.setAltitudes(3000.0, 7000.0);

`PartialCappedCylinder`

A CappedCylinder sector — a pie-slice cylinder arc defined by start and stop azimuths.

PartialCappedCylinder — arc sector

PartialCappedCylinder pcc = new PartialCappedCylinder(
    LatLon.fromDegrees(37.5, -122.0),
    40000.0
);
pcc.setAzimuths(Angle.fromDegrees(045.0), Angle.fromDegrees(180.0));
pcc.setAltitudes(2000.0, 8000.0);

`PolyArc`

A Curtain with an optional arc cap — a mixture of straight and curved boundary segments.

`Polygon` (airspace)

A vertical-sided prism defined by a set of LatLon positions forming the horizontal footprint.

Polygon airspace — vertical prism

gov.nasa.worldwind.render.airspaces.Polygon ap =
    new gov.nasa.worldwind.render.airspaces.Polygon();
ap.setLocations(Arrays.asList(
    LatLon.fromDegrees(37.0, -122.0),
    LatLon.fromDegrees(37.0, -121.0),
    LatLon.fromDegrees(38.0, -121.5)
));
ap.setAltitudes(500.0, 5000.0);

`Route`

A sequence of Box or Orbit segments that form a continuous corridor, suitable for airways and routes.

`SphereAirspace`

A sphere defined by a LatLon centre position, altitude, and radius. Useful for proximity zones and weapon engagement zones.

SphereAirspace

SphereAirspace sphere = new SphereAirspace(
    LatLon.fromDegrees(37.5, -121.5),
    5000.0,   // altitude of the centre (metres MSL)
    10000.0   // radius in metres
);

`TrackAirspace`

A track made up of a series of connected Box legs. Each leg is a TrackAirspace.Leg with independent radii and altitudes, allowing complex airway routing.

Concrete Airspace Summary Table

Class	Key Constructor Parameters	Typical Use
`Box`	Two `LatLon` + left/right widths	Rectangular corridor
`Cake`	`setCenter(LatLon)` + `addLayer(…)`	Multi-floor TMA
`CappedCylinder`	`LatLon` centre + outer radius	CTR, ATZ, restricted area
`CappedEllipticalCylinder`	Centre + major/minor radii + heading	Elliptical restricted zone
`Curtain`	`List<LatLon>` path	Vertical fence or boundary
`Orbit`	Two `LatLon` + `OrbitType` + width	Holding pattern, corridor
`PartialCappedCylinder`	Centre + radius + start/stop azimuths	Pie-slice sector
`PolyArc`	`List<LatLon>` + optional arc	Mixed boundary shape
`Polygon`	`List<LatLon>` footprint	Vertical prism
`Route`	Connected `Box`/`Orbit` segments	Airway/route
`SphereAirspace`	`LatLon` + altitude + radius	Proximity/WEZ sphere
`TrackAirspace`	Series of `Leg` objects	Complex airway track

`AirspaceLayer`

AirspaceLayer is the recommended layer class for rendering airspace shapes. It extends AbstractLayer and handles sorted rendering, batch optimisations, and picking.

AirspaceLayer — adding and displaying airspaces

AirspaceLayer airspaceLayer = new AirspaceLayer();
airspaceLayer.setName("Class B Airspace");

// Add shapes
airspaceLayer.addAirspace(cyl);
airspaceLayer.addAirspace(orbit);

// Remove
airspaceLayer.removeAirspace(orbit);

// Bulk operations
airspaceLayer.addAirspaces(myAirspaceList);
airspaceLayer.removeAllAirspaces();

wwd.getModel().getLayers().add(airspaceLayer);

Complete Example: CappedCylinder Airspace

Creating and rendering a CappedCylinder airspace

// 1. Build attributes
AirspaceAttributes attrs = new BasicAirspaceAttributes();
attrs.setDrawInterior(true);
attrs.setInteriorMaterial(new Material(new Color(0, 120, 255, 100)));
attrs.setInteriorOpacity(0.4);
attrs.setDrawOutline(true);
attrs.setOutlineMaterial(new Material(Color.BLUE));
attrs.setOutlineWidth(2.0);

AirspaceAttributes highlight = new BasicAirspaceAttributes();
highlight.setDrawInterior(true);
highlight.setInteriorMaterial(new Material(new Color(255, 200, 0, 150)));
highlight.setDrawOutline(true);
highlight.setOutlineMaterial(new Material(Color.ORANGE));

// 2. Build the cylinder (San Francisco Class B outer ring example)
CappedCylinder classB = new CappedCylinder(
    LatLon.fromDegrees(37.619, -122.374), // SFO centre
    55560.0                               // 30 nm in metres
);
classB.setInnerRadius(0.0);
classB.setAltitudes(0.0, 4267.0);        // surface to 14,000 ft
classB.setAltitudeDatum(AVKey.ABOVE_MEAN_SEA_LEVEL, AVKey.ABOVE_MEAN_SEA_LEVEL);
classB.setAttributes(attrs);
classB.setHighlightAttributes(highlight);

// 3. Add to a layer
AirspaceLayer layer = new AirspaceLayer();
layer.setName("SFO Class B");
layer.addAirspace(classB);

wwd.getModel().getLayers().add(layer);
wwd.redraw();

Call setEnableBatchRendering(true) (the default) on all airspaces in a layer to allow the renderer to process them in a single OpenGL pass, significantly improving performance for large airspace datasets.

Core

Geometry & Globe

Layers & Rendering

Data & Formats

Symbology & Utilities

Airspace Volumes API: CappedCylinder, Box, Route, Orbit

`Airspace` Interface

`AirspaceAttributes`

Concrete Airspace Types

`Box`

`Cake`

`CappedCylinder`

`CappedEllipticalCylinder`

`Curtain`

`Orbit`

`PartialCappedCylinder`

`PolyArc`

`Polygon` (airspace)

`Route`

`SphereAirspace`

`TrackAirspace`

Concrete Airspace Summary Table

`AirspaceLayer`

Complete Example: CappedCylinder Airspace

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Core

Geometry & Globe

Layers & Rendering

Data & Formats

Symbology & Utilities

Documentation Index

​Airspace Interface

​AirspaceAttributes

​Concrete Airspace Types

​Box

​Cake

​CappedCylinder

​CappedEllipticalCylinder

​Curtain

​Orbit

​PartialCappedCylinder

​PolyArc

​Polygon (airspace)

​Route

​SphereAirspace

​TrackAirspace

​Concrete Airspace Summary Table

​AirspaceLayer

​Complete Example: CappedCylinder Airspace

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

`Airspace` Interface

`AirspaceAttributes`

Concrete Airspace Types

`Box`

`Cake`

`CappedCylinder`

`CappedEllipticalCylinder`

`Curtain`

`Orbit`

`PartialCappedCylinder`

`PolyArc`

`Polygon` (airspace)

`Route`

`SphereAirspace`

`TrackAirspace`

Concrete Airspace Summary Table

`AirspaceLayer`

Complete Example: CappedCylinder Airspace