Privacy

Scope

This notice describes how the AANTC website handles information when you browse public pages or use an internal service. It should be read together with the University Data Privacy Policy Statement.

Public browsing

Public pages do not require an account. The website stores display preferences, including the selected colour theme and collection view, in your browser. These preferences remain on your device and are not used to identify you.

The website may use first-party aggregate interaction records when this service is enabled. These records are limited to page paths and response status, link source and destination paths without query parameters, normalised on-site search terms, interaction times, the duration for which a public page remains visible, an approximate city, first-level administrative region and country when available, and a coarse request classification. The classification records whether the request matched known automated software, matched a common browser, or remained unknown. It does not confirm that a visitor is a person. The system stores only the classification and rule version, not the original User-Agent string. The records do not contain a user identity, raw IP address, coordinates, postal code, cookie value, session identifier, browser fingerprint or link text. Aggregate weekly reports are available only to the website operators named in the service configuration.

When regional analytics is enabled, the server uses the network address supplied with a page request only long enough to query a locally installed geolocation database. The address is not written to the analytics records or sent to the geolocation provider. IP-derived city data is approximate and is not used to identify an individual, household or precise address. The regional lookup uses the DB-IP City Lite database under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. IP geolocation by DB-IP.

Accounts, bookings and administration

Login, profile, booking and administration services process the information required to complete the requested task. Django uses security cookies for authenticated sessions and cross-site request forgery protection. These internal services are separate from the anonymous public interaction records described above.

The public noise calculator receives aircraft geometry and operating inputs and returns the calculation result in the same request. The website backend retains calculation inputs, results and execution status for service operation, technical review and fault investigation. Stored calculation records are not available to visitors and can be retrieved only by authorised website operations personnel and administrators.

Calculator usage records are separate from aggregate public browsing records. When enabled, the calculator uses a signed random visitor cookie lasting up to 90 days and a browser-session visit cookie to connect visits, named control actions, submitted cases and exports. If you are logged in, these records also include your account ID. They record server times, language, selected aircraft catalogue ID, approximate country, region and city when available, response status, processing time, and export format and size. They do not store your raw IP address, precise location, original User-Agent, typed aircraft name, passwords or authentication tokens.

Daily maintenance removes account, visitor and visit identifiers, city and region from calculator usage records older than 90 days. Calculation inputs and results, event times, country-level statistics and case links remain for technical review and service statistics. Historical cases are not assigned identities that were not recorded at the time. Export records distinguish a file generated by the server from a browser report that the file was received; neither confirms that it was saved to your device. Clearing calculator cookies starts a new anonymous identifier. To request review or removal of a personal association, use the privacy enquiry contact below.

Do not submit personal or confidential information through a public search field. AANTC does not provide a public contact form; research and visit enquiries should use the contact details on the Contact page.

External services and links

The Contact page includes a Google Maps frame and links to external HKUST, profile, publication and social-sharing services. Opening or loading third-party content may allow that provider to receive technical request information under its own privacy terms. The full campus address and direct map links remain available without relying on the embedded map.

Privacy enquiries

Questions about this website can be sent to rcaoai@ust.hk. Enquiries concerning University personal-data policy can be directed to the HKUST Data Privacy Officer at ispdpo@ust.hk.