Agent-based Simulation of the Maritime Domain

In this paper, a multi-agent based simulation platform is introduced that focuses on legitimate and illegitimate aspects of maritime traffic, mainly on intercontinental transport through piracy afflicted areas. The extensible architecture presented here comprises several modules controlling the simulation and the life-cycle of the agents, analyzing the simulation output and visualizing the entire simulated domain. The simulation control module is initialized by various configuration scenarios to simulate various real-world situations, such as a pirate ambush, coordinated transit through a transport corridor, or coastal fishing and local traffic. The environmental model provides a rich set of inputs for agents that use the geo-spatial data and the vessel operational characteristics for their reasoning. The agent behavior model based on finite state machines together with planning algorithms allows complex expression of agent behavior, so the resulting simulation output can serve as a substitution for real world data from the maritime domain

Aeronautical life-cycle mission modelling framework for conceptual design

This thesis introduces a novel framework for life cycle mission modelling during conceptual aeronautical design. The framework supports object-oriented mission definition using Geographical Information System technology. Design concepts are defined generically, enabling simulation of most aeronautical vessels and many non-aeronautical vehicles. Moreover, the framework enables modelling of entire vessel fleets, business competitors and dynamic operational changes throughout a vessel life cycle. Vessels consist of components deteriorating over time. Vessels carry payload that operates within the vessel environment.An agent-based simulation model implements most framework features. It is the first use of an agent-based simulation utilising a Geographical Information System during conceptual aeronautical design. Two case studies for unmanned aircraft design apply the simulation. The first case study explores how the simulation supports conceptual design phase decisions. It simulates four different unmanned aircraft concepts in a search-and-rescue scenario including lifeboats. The goal is to learn which design best improves life cycle search performance. It is shown how operational and geographical impacts influence design decision making by generating novel performance information. The second case study studies the simulation optimisation capability: an existing aircraft design is modified manually based on simulation outputs. First, increasing the fuel tank capacity has a negative effect on life cycle performance due to mission constraints. Therefore, mission definition becomes an optimisation parameter. Changing mission flight speeds during specific segments leads to an overall improved design

Hybrid Satellite-Terrestrial Communication Networks for the Maritime Internet of Things: Key Technologies, Opportunities, and Challenges

With the rapid development of marine activities, there has been an increasing number of maritime mobile terminals, as well as a growing demand for high-speed and ultra-reliable maritime communications to keep them connected. Traditionally, the maritime Internet of Things (IoT) is enabled by maritime satellites. However, satellites are seriously restricted by their high latency and relatively low data rate. As an alternative, shore & island-based base stations (BSs) can be built to extend the coverage of terrestrial networks using fourth-generation (4G), fifth-generation (5G), and beyond 5G services. Unmanned aerial vehicles can also be exploited to serve as aerial maritime BSs. Despite of all these approaches, there are still open issues for an efficient maritime communication network (MCN). For example, due to the complicated electromagnetic propagation environment, the limited geometrically available BS sites, and rigorous service demands from mission-critical applications, conventional communication and networking theories and methods should be tailored for maritime scenarios. Towards this end, we provide a survey on the demand for maritime communications, the state-of-the-art MCNs, and key technologies for enhancing transmission efficiency, extending network coverage, and provisioning maritime-specific services. Future challenges in developing an environment-aware, service-driven, and integrated satellite-air-ground MCN to be smart enough to utilize external auxiliary information, e.g., sea state and atmosphere conditions, are also discussed

Design of an intelligent waterway ambient infrastructure based on Multiagent Systems and Wireless Sensor Networks

Lately Maritime research areas have moved their interests from traditional ship studies and traffic systems to new areas that confer a more general character to them as, for example, environmental monitoring. BOYAS project is proposed including these new perspectives as well as more classical ones. Trying to get this integral character for the waterway ambient and its activities management, the confluence between two recent research areas is studied. The convergence of Multiagent Systems and Wireless Sensor Networks constitutes a good framework and scenario in which this new research activities may be studied and develop.Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio FIT-340000-2006-2

Revisiting the Question: Are Systems of Systems just (traditional) Systems or are they a new class of Systems?

This paper revisits a question asked and debated widely over the past decade: are Systems of Systems (SoS) just traditional systems or are they a new class of systems? Many have argued that SoS are a new class of systems, but little research has been available to provide evidence of this. In this paper we share highlights of recent research to show SoS not only have a different structure than systems and thus need to be engineered differently, but also may possess different attributes for beyond first use properties (the “illities”) such as flexibility and adaptability as compared to systems. By examining historical examples and by using a maritime security SoS as a research test bed, this paper shows that the “ility” called survivability had some design strategies that were directly mapped from systems and also allowed new strategies that only made sense for a SoS (e.g. vigilance). The paper also shows that some design strategies have a different implementation and meaning (e.g. margin) at the level of a system compared to SoS level. We conclude the answer to the question “Are SoS’s just systems?” is both yes and no. They are manifestly systems but possess properties not found in traditional systems. This is shown to true of the meta-property of survivability as applied against a directed SoS

Anticipating the Effects of Economic Displacement in Marine Space with Agent Based Models

As marine space is managed into appropriate resource use areas, it is inevitable that some is allocated towards a mutually exclusive spatial activity. This exclusion results in displacement that has real economic consequences. When a wind energy area is placed in coastal waters, navigable space is reduced and vessels are displaced from their former routes. The USCG is concerned that re-routing will result in vessels navigating within closer proximity than they would otherwise in an open ocean scenario, and fear that this will increase the risk of vessel collision (USCG 2016). They recommend research into tools that are capable of predicting changes in vessel traffic patterns (USCG 2016). Agent based models are a method capable of predicting these traffic patterns, and are composed individual, autonomous goal directed software objects that form emergent behavior of interest. Agents are controlled by a simple behavioral rule, they must arrive at their destination without colliding with an obstacle or other vessel. They enforce this rule with the gravitational potential that exists between two objects. Attractive forces pull each agent towards their destination, while repulsive forces push them away from danger. We validated simulated vessel tracks against real turning circle test data, tested for the presence of chaotic systems, developed metrics to assess transportation costs, and applied the method to assess a wind energy area located outside of the entrance to the Port of New York and New Jersey

Assessing the eco-efficiency benefits of empty container repositioning strategies via dry ports

Trade imbalances and global disturbances generate mismatches in the supply and demand of empty containers (ECs) that elevate the need for empty container repositioning (ECR). This research investigated dry ports as a potential means to minimize EC movements, and thus reduce costs and emissions. We assessed the environmental and economic effects of two ECR strategies via dry ports—street turns and extended free temporary storage—considering different scenarios of collaboration between shipping lines with different levels of container substitution. A multiparadigm simulation combined agent-based and discrete-event modelling to represent flows and estimate kilometers travelled, CO2 emissions, and costs resulting from combinations of ECR strategies and scenarios. Full ownership container substitution combined with extended free temporary storage at the dry port (FTDP) most improved ECR metrics, despite implementation challenges. Our results may be instrumental in increasing shipping lines’ collaboration while reducing environmental impacts in up to 32 % of the inland ECR emissions