EMB ERJ 190/195 ER/LR
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Other / Unknown
ATC Issue All Types
General None Reported / Taken
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
An E190 was landing Runway 33L when a false target was observed at one of the intersections of 33L. As the E190 rolled through the false target; the target disappeared. The E190 completed his landing roll out and was instructed to exit the runway at Foxtrot and join Papa and contact Ground. The aircraft was observed clear of the runway and was moving slowly to pass behind an aircraft southbound on Papa Taxiway. A B737 landed Runway 33L and as the aircraft touched down the ASDE-X alerted that the runway was occupied; even though the previous aircraft was observed off of the runway both visually and on the ASDE-X. I would recommend that the ASDE-X equipment be eliminated as it is unreliable. Here at BWI we have many false alerts take place and many false targets show up and disappear on the ground RADAR. If this is not an option; than the parameters of the ASDE-X need to be checked so that false alerts such as this one do not happen.
BWI Controller described a 'false' ASDE-X alarm involving a Runway 33L landing and a non-existing target at a runway intersection; the reporter suggesting either refinement of the ASDE-X parameters or discontinuing use of the equipment.