Inland Navigation Technology \u2709 - Digital Technology Impact on Safety and Efficiency

This workshop discussed the impact of digital technology on inland navigation safety and efficiency from the combined perspective government agencies and waterway operators. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) described inland navigation Research & Development (R&D), related demonstration efforts, and Headquarters initiatives for safer, more reliable waterways and infrastructure. The US Coast Guard (USCG) addressed the latest developments in e-Navigation (e.g., electronic charts, AIS, and aidsto-navigation), and how these developments might affect inland waterways operations. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) discussed PORTS (Physical Oceanographic RealTime System) and other activities. Representatives from the Towing Industry, led by the American Waterways Operators Technology Steering Group, described current/future needs, as well as ongoing/planned initiatives to meet challenges associated with projected future increases in inland commerce

e-Navigation and Electronic Charting: Implications for Hydrographic Community

e-Navigation is a recent IMO initiative that aims to integrate existing/new shipboard and shore-based navigational tools into an “all embracing” system. Defined as: “... the harmonised collection, integration, exchange, presentation and analysis of maritime information onboard and ashore by electronic means to enhance berth to berth navigation and related services, for safety and security at sea and protection of the marine environment” the goal of e-Navigation is to provide an infrastructure that will enable seamless information transfer onboard ship, between ships, ship-to-shore, and between shore authorities. Core elements include high-integrity electronic positioning, electronic navigational charts (ENCs) and improved system functionality towards reducing human error. In particular, this means actively engaging the mariner in the process of navigation while preventing distraction and overburdening. There are two main challenges in going from concept to implementation. 1) Ensuring the availability of all components of the system and using them effectively in order to simplify the display of crucial navigation-related information. 2) Incorporating new technologies in a structured way, while ensuring that their use is compliant with the existing navigational communication technologies and services. To date, the primary focus of IHO Member States has been to complete ENC coverage for major shipping routes. However, e-Navigation has other implications for the hydrographic community, including: 1) Use of AIS binary messages 2) Standards for Displaying e-Navigation Information 3) Guiding Principles for e-Navigation-related Informatio

The Next Edition of IHO-S-57 (4.0): A Primer

The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is an intergovernmental consultative and technical organization that was established in 1921 to support the safety of navigation and the protection of the marine environment. IHO Special Publication 57 (IHO S-57) is the IHO Transfer Standard for Digital Hydrographic Data. It is the standard to be used for the exchange of digital hydrographic data between hydrographic offices (HOs), and for the distribution of hydrographic data to manufacturers, mariners and other data users (e.g., GIS). It was developed so that the transfer all forms of hydrographic data would take place in a consistent and uniform manner. To date, S-57 3.0/3.1 has been used almost exclusively for encoding Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) required for ECDIS. However, S-57 is intended to support all types of hydrographic data. In order to do so, S-57 Edition 3.1 needs to expand in order to accommodate new requirements. This “Primer” explains what is planned in regard to the next edition of IHO S-57 (Edition 4). In particular, it provides a brief description about process required to align with ISO geospatial standards and the benefits to be gained. Included is an explanation about the scope of activity of the TSMAD S-57 Edition 4 Sub-WG, and how others may contribute to the process

Though the Day of My Destiny\u27s Over

Though the day of my destiny\u27s overAnd the star of my fate hath declin\u27dThy soft heart refused to discoverThe faults that so many could findTho thy soul with my grief was acquaintedIt shrunk not to share it with meAnd the love which my spirit hath paintedIt never hath found but in theeAnd the love which my spirit hath painted It never hath found but in thee Yet I blame not the world nor despise itNor the war of the many with oneIf my soul was not fitted to prize it\u27Twas folly not sooner to shunAnd if dearly that error has cost meAnd more than I once could foreseeI have found that whatever it lost meIt could not deprive me of theeI have found that whatever it lost me It could not deprive me of thee From the wreck of the past which has perishedThus much I at least may recallIt hath taught me that what I most cherishedDeserved to be dearest of allIn the desert a fountain is springingIn the wide waste there still is a treeAnd a bird in the solitude singingWhich speaks to my spirit of theeAnd a bird in the solitude singing Which speaks to my spirit of the

Encoding AIS Binary Messages in XML Format for Providing Hydrographic-related Information

A specification is proposed to enable hydrographic and maritime safety agencies to encode AIS messages using Extensible Markup Language (XML). It specifies the order, length, and type of fields contained in ITU-R.M.1371-1. A XML schema validates the message definitions, and a XSLT style sheet produces reference documentation in \u27html\u27 format. AIS binary messages in XML are an effective means to communicate dynamic and real-time port/waterway information. For example, tidal information can be continuously broadcast to maritime users and applied to a tide-aware ENC. The XML format aligns with the type of data encapsulation planned for the IHO Geospatial Standard for Digital Hydrographic Data (S-100)

New Standards for Providing Meteorological and Hydrographic Information via AIS Application-specific Messages

AIS Application-specific messages transmitted in binary format will be increasingly used to digitally communicate maritime safety/security information between participating vessels and shore stations. This includes time-sensitive meteorological and hydrographic information that is critical for safe vessel transits and efficient ports/waterways management. IMO recently completed a new Safety-of-Navigation Circular (SN/Circ.) that includes a number of meteorologi-cal and hydrographic message applications and data parameters. In conjunction with the development of a new SN/Circ., IMO will establish an International Application (IA) Register for AIS Application-Specific Messages. IALA plans to establish a similar register for regional appli-cations. While there are no specific standards for the presentation/display of AIS application-specific messages on shipborne or shore-based systems, IMO issued guidance that includes specific mention of conforming to the e-Navigation concept of operation. For both IHO S-57 and S-100-related data dealing with dynamic met/hydro information, it is recommended that IHO uses the same data content fields and parameters that are defined in the new IMO SN/Circ. on AIS Application-specific Messages

Hydrographic Products/Services as a Fundamental Component of the e-Navigation Concept of Operation

e-Navigation is a recent initiative aimed at moving traditional maritime navigation towards a connected digital environment. Defined by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as “the harmonized collection, integration, exchange, presentation and analysis of maritime information onboard and ashore by electronic means to enhance birth-to-birth navigation and related services, for safety and security at sea and protection of the marine environment”, e-Navigation is not a new system of equipment but more an operational concept. Three significant outcomes are envisioned: 1) Shipboard navigation systems will benefit from the integration of own ship sensors, supporting information, standard user interface, and a comprehensive system for managing guard zones and alerts. Core elements include high-integrity electronic positioning, use of ENCs, and an analysis capability to reduce human error. 2) The management of vessel traffic and related services from ashore will be enhanced through better provision, coordination, and exchange of comprehensive data in formats that will be more easily understood and utilized. 3) A communications infrastructure designed to enable authorised seamless information transfer onboard ship, between ships, between ship and shore and between shore authorities. This paper discusses the main hydrographic-related components, implications for further standards development, some challenges/opportunities, and the role that IHO and others in the hydrographic community should play to facilitate the development and implementation of eNavigation

A Scalable Low-Cost-UAV Traffic Network (uNet)

This article proposes a new Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operation paradigm to enable a large number of relatively low-cost UAVs to fly beyond-line-of-sight without costly sensing and communication systems or substantial human intervention in individual UAV control. Under current free-flight-like paradigm, wherein a UAV can travel along any route as long as it avoids restricted airspace and altitudes. However, this requires expensive on-board sensing and communication as well as substantial human effort in order to ensure avoidance of obstacles and collisions. The increased cost serves as an impediment to the emergence and development of broader UAV applications. The main contribution of this work is to propose the use of pre-established route network for UAV traffic management, which allows: (i) pre- mapping of obstacles along the route network to reduce the onboard sensing requirements and the associated costs for avoiding such obstacles; and (ii) use of well-developed routing algorithms to select UAV schedules that avoid conflicts. Available GPS-based navigation can be used to fly the UAV along the selected route and time schedule with relatively low added cost, which therefore, reduces the barrier to entry into new UAV-applications market. Finally, this article proposes a new decoupling scheme for conflict-free transitions between edges of the route network at each node of the route network to reduce potential conflicts between UAVs and ensuing delays. A simulation example is used to illustrate the proposed uNet approach.Comment: To be submitted to journal, 21 pages, 9 figure