Maritime Area Surveillance

Maritime Area Surveillance at the Digital Ocean Lab

The Digital Ocean Lab operates a sophisticated array of technologies for real-time monitoring and surveillance of maritime areas. These systems are designed to enhance situational awareness, support maritime safety and facilitate research on vessel traffic and marine environment interactions. By integrating fiber-optic sensing, coastal radar and Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking, the lab provides a comprehensive approach to maritime monitoring.

Core Surveillance Technologies

1.ASN Opto DAS (Distributed Acoustic Sensing) with Fiber-Optic Network

• A Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) system utilizing a 3-kilometer-long fiber-optic cable installed around the ODAS platform.
• DAS technology transforms the entire length of the fiber-optic cable into a continuous sensor capable of detecting and localizing:
  • Underwater acoustic signals
  • Seismic activity
  • Ship movements and marine traffic
  • Pipeline or infrastructure disturbances
• This system provides real-time acoustic surveillance, supporting early detection of unusual activity and environmental changes.

2. Mobile WERA Coastal Radar Systems

• Two mobile WERA (WEllen RAdar) coastal radar systems provide long-range monitoring of surface ocean currents, waves and vessel movements.
• WERA radars operate over a range of up to 200 km, making them ideal for tracking:
  • Nearshore and offshore vessel traffic
  • Wave height and direction
  • Surface current patterns
• The radar systems support both safety operations (e.g., navigation hazard alerts) and oceanographic research by delivering real-time surface data.

3. AIS Station and Vessel Tracking

• An Automatic Identification System (AIS) transceiver collects data from vessels equipped with AIS transponders, providing real-time information on:
  • Vessel positions
  • Navigation routes
  • Ship identification details (name, type, size, cargo and destination)
• The AIS data is integrated with radar and DAS systems to offer a multi-source tracking capability, improving maritime domain awareness.
• This system supports maritime security, vessel traffic management and research on ship-environment interactions.

Applications and Use Cases

1. Maritime Safety and Security
   • Real-time surveillance from DAS, coastal radar and AIS enables early detection of potential security threats, including:
     • Unregistered or suspicious vessel movements
     • Collisions, grounding or illegal fishing activities
   • This capability enhances situational awareness and facilitates coordinated response efforts with authorities and stakeholders.
2. Vessel Traffic Management
   • Integrated data from AIS and radar systems supports efficient vessel traffic management, particularly in areas with high shipping density.
   • The system helps optimize shipping routes and reduce navigation risks, improving the safety of marine transport.
3. Environmental Monitoring
   • The DAS system is capable of detecting underwater noise pollution, enabling researchers to assess the impact of vessel traffic on marine ecosystems.
   • Coastal radar and AIS data also contribute to studies on the relationship between oceanographic conditions and vessel navigation patterns.
4. Research and Oceanographic Studies
   • The WERA radar provides detailed measurements of surface currents and wave dynamics, supporting research on coastal processes and sediment transport.
   • The fiber-optic DAS system enhances studies on subsea infrastructure, marine noise mapping and seismic activity.
5. Marine Infrastructure Protection
   • The DAS system’s continuous acoustic monitoring allows for the early detection of disturbances near critical infrastructure, such as:
     • Undersea cables
     • Pipelines
     • Offshore platforms
   • This capability helps prevent damage by alerting operators to potentially hazardous conditions.
6. Data Integration for Marine Research and Operations
   • The combination of acoustic, radar and AIS data provides a comprehensive dataset for multi-disciplinary research and operational planning.
   • These systems enable real-time data fusion, offering researchers and operators a complete overview of the maritime domain.

Advantages and Benefits

• Comprehensive Surveillance Network: Integration of DAS, radar and AIS provides real-time monitoring across both surface and underwater domains.
• High-Resolution Data: The fiber-optic system offers precise acoustic sensing, while WERA radar and AIS provide detailed surface and vessel data.
• Early Warning and Situational Awareness: The system enables early detection of security threats, environmental changes and potential hazards.
• Support for Research and Operations: Continuous data collection supports both short-term operations and long-term research on marine ecosystems and infrastructure.
• Scalability and Flexibility: Mobile radar systems and modular DAS infrastructure can be adjusted to meet changing surveillance and research needs.

Integrated System Workflow

1. Data Acquisition
   • Acoustic signals from the DAS system, radar surface measurements and AIS vessel information are collected in real time.
2. Data Fusion
   • All data sources are integrated into a unified monitoring platform, allowing for real-time visualization and data analysis.
3. Alert Generation and Response
   • The system automatically triggers alerts based on predefined criteria (e.g., unusual vessel activity or infrastructure disturbances), enabling rapid response and risk mitigation.

The Digital Ocean Lab's maritime surveillance infrastructure provides a robust solution for monitoring and managing marine areas. By leveraging advanced technologies, the lab enhances both research and operational capabilities, ensuring safety, security and environmental protection in the maritime domain.