Integrated Navigation System: Not a Sum of Its Parts

Similar to the evolutionary process for living organisms, marine navigation systems are becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated. Both by design and function, shipboard and shore-based navigation systems are no longer individual equipment components operating independently. Instead, the trend is toward integration, data fusion and synergy. One example of this are new Performance Standards being considered by IMO to achieve a “harmonized” presentation of all navigation-related information on the display of an integrated navigation system (INS). Unlike a dedicated display for ECDIS or radar, the new INS displays will be a task-oriented composite presentations that enable the mariner to configure the display for an operational situation by selecting specific chart, radar, radar plotting aids (ARPA) and AIS information that is required for the task-at-hand. This paper gives a brief overview of the trend toward the development of INS. In addition to a brief summary of IMO performance standards for navigation equipment/systems, specific mention is made about a BSH (Germany) report on the “Functional Scope and Model of INS.” A discussion is provided about the challenges of providing navigation safety information that goes beyond traditional boundaries of products and services. Currently, many agencies continue to produce individual products and services on a component basis. Hydrographic offices grapple with trying to provide multiple products and services for paper charts, raster navigational charts (RNCs) and electronic navigational charts (ENCs) while a same time, Coast Guard and Maritime Safety agencies focus on improving Aids-to-Navigation (AtoN), Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), AIS networks -- and more recently, port security. In some respects, the continued concentration on separate products and services represents an organizational reluctance to change. This in turn, results in a fragmented, sub-optimal approach to the safety-of-navigation caused by the inability to provide mariners with “seamless” information at reasonable cost. In particular, hydrographic offices must be willing to recognize that chart information can no longer be considered to be separate, individual products. When it comes to the provision and use of chart-related information for use in an INS, the focus needs to shift to what information is actually desired, how it will be provided, what other information it will be used with, and whether it is truly up-todate

Oral Immunization of Wildlife Against Rabies: Concept and First Field Experiments

The possibility of immunizing carnivores against rabies with live attenuated vaccine administered by the oral route was raised by North American scientists in the 1960s. Subsequently, several American and European teams tested different vaccine strains in the laboratory for efficacy and safety and studied vaccine stabilization, vaccine delivery systems, baIt acceptance by wl1d ammals, and bait distribution schemes. The first field trial of a cloned SAD (Street Alabama Dufferin) strain in baits designed to immunize foxes orally ~as conducted in an Alpine valley in Switzerland in 1978. A population containing ∼60% immune foxes at the valley entrance stopped the spread of the disease into untreated upper parts of the valley. T~e strategic use of oral vaccination of foxes in additional regions of SWItzerland resulted m freedom from the zoonosis in four-fifths of the countr

Dog Ecology and Dog Rabies Control

Dog populations, like other populations, depend on the availability of resources (food, water, and shelter). Humans either make available or deliberately withhold resources for varying proportions of dog populations. Dog-keeping practices and the duties of responsible ownership vary with the cultural setting. Dog populations often attain densities that allow the species to be a main host of rabies. The epidemiology of dog rabies is not well understood, despite the easy access to dog populations. Today dog rabies is predomina~t in developing countries. In addition to the high rate of exposure of humans to dogs, tradItional medical beliefs and practices are the most important cultural factors that lead to high numbers of cases of human rabies. Dog rabies control programs have been succe~sful in the past, but most are failing today. Program development should follow managenal principles and take into consideration the biology of dog populations as w~ll as. cultural constraints. Elimination of stray dogs IS not an effIcIent means of controllIng eIther the dog population or rabies, but it may create public awarenes

Collection of Press Receipts Advertising for Volunteer Soldiers

An assortment of vouchers and receipts made out to Capts. J.C. Grafton and R.B. Brown in the 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment advertising for new recruits, 1863-4. Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 278, f.29https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/paul_bean_papers/1044/thumbnail.jp

A Fusion Network for Nautical On-Board Communications

Modern maritime on-board communications have to be improved for safety and security. Current technology provides ease and expediency together to the crew and passengers with the help of ubiquitous technologies. Making use of Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) on board is a current custom of implementing ubiquitous technology for ships as it is important for an on-board communication system which provides reliability and flexibility for handling emergency situations. Two key phases of this scheme are: merging different on-board communiqué networks into a fusion system and enabling the cooperation between them; smoothly incorporating these networks with a consideration of backward compatibility, ease of deployment and association to shore via Internet. A combined integration move towards is selected based on comprehensive analysis

Paper Session III-C - Technology Reuse on the Spacelift Ranges

The Range Standardization and Automation (RSA) program is designed to completely update both of Air Force Space Command’s ranges: the Eastern Range at Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, and the Western Range at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. As part of this modernization, several new technologies are under consideration to improve system performance and reduce operating and maintenance costs. Several of these technologies have the potential to reduce costs to vehicles launched off the ranges, and change the format of tracking data from the range. The RSA program is planned for three phases. Phase I was awarded by the Space and Missile Systems Center to the Harris Corp. in 1993. It addresses some of the more pressing needs on the ranges such as a new communications system for the Eastern Range and new telemetry processing systems for both ranges. Phase IIA was awarded to Lockheed Martin in 1995 to develop a completely modernized architecture for both ranges, and complete the upgrade of all command, control, and communications systems, and other systems such as weather and optics. Phase IIB, planned for award in 2002, will implement the fixed instrumentation part of the Phase IIA architecture