Global Maritime Security
Tuesday 9th November 2010, 1600hrs–1730hrs
Chaired by Alain Carof Radar and AIS Sensors Constellation for Global Maritime Surveillance Mrs Sophie Ramongassie, Thales Alenia Space, France Maritime surveillance is of utmost importance to ensure the safe use of the seas and maritime border security. These missions are currently covered by ground and airborne sensors, but better time and spatial coverage can be done only with space sensors which can bring a global coverage and permanent revisit time. The space based system presented here consists in a constellation of four satellites, in which an AIS (Automatic Identification System) receiver instrument and a Radar instrument are embarked together. This innovative concept covers either cooperative vessels, thanks to its sensor allowing AIS messages exploitation and non cooperative vessels thanks to Radar sensor. These synchronous and geographically overlapping data can be processed further on the ground and can allow data fusion for cross-validation and for high level interpretation. In the frame of SMAR study (Feasibility study of a space-based maritime surveillance system), funded by CNES, several concepts for this dual sensor constellation have been addressed. One of them supported by Thales Alenia Space is described in this paper. AIS sensor is based on a multi-antenna system, which enables efficient signal discrimination, and on high level processing algorithms, split between board and ground. The Radar concept, based on low PRF Radar, is specifically oriented for ship detection and exhibits high detection performances of small ships even in adverse sea states conditions. Performance of the AIS and Radar sensors constellation will be quantified (revisit time, swath width, detection probability, false alarm probability, number of detected vessels). How to Combine AIS, Argos and LRIT Systems to Contribute Efficiently to the Maritime Domain Awareness Mr Thibaud Calmettes, Thales Alenia Space, France Rémi Challamel, Thales Alenia Space, France; Gaëtan Fabritius, CLS, France; Julia Le Maitre, CNES, France Space offers relevant tools for ship tracking and related maritime security applications. This paper will focus on three systems and their possible synergies : Argos, LRIT and AIS. Argos is a 30 years old system, designed for environment monitoring applications. It is a powerful efficient reporting solution well adapted to track fishing vessels for sustainable management of marine resources. LRIT (Long Range Identification and Tracking) is a worldwide secure governmental system, in force since 2009, to track commercial and passenger ships for security and safety purposes. Protocols and messages are internationally standardized and rely on existing constellations (Inmarsat and Iridium). AIS (Automatic Identification System) is one of the first open standard data radio communication systems adopted within the global maritime environment. Studies and experiments are in progress for the reception of AIS signals from space by Low-Earth orbit constellation, with an objective of efficient coverage around 2014. Depending on the required performances, integrity and reliability, different levels of payload and satellite solutions have been defined. Space-based AIS is transparent for ships, but faces detection difficulties today over high density maritime areas. This paper will provide technical details and operational use cases for these space systems, and present campaign results (Argos, LRIT) and or simulation results (for different levels of complexity in space based AIS system) to highlight the benefits and limitations of each system. It will finally demonstrate through concrete examples how an innovative complementary management of these three space based solutions would significantly benefit the worldwide maritime domain awareness. Innovative Spaceborne SAR System for Mediterranean Sea Daily Mapping and Surveillance Mr. Ignazio Rana, Thales Alenia Space, Italy Some of the main needs in the frame of maritime surveillance for countries facing the Mediterranean basin concern the capability to assure maritime disaster early warning (e.g. early detection of environmental accidents or quick ship adrift location) and to detect non collaborative ships (i.e. with Transponder switched off) engaged in smuggling or polluting malicious activities. Ground based systems are limited in facing these challenges, so an integration of the capabilities offered by such systems with those offered by a space based one may improve the response to illegal maritime behaviour, limit the human life loss risk, and restraint the environmental consequences of oil spill disasters through an improved early warning capability. This paper's description of design and achievable performances will introduce a SAR satellite system, optimized for the ship detection, capable to operate in two different system modes: respectively named Mapping and Urgent mode. The Mapping mode allows performing systematically and autonomously the mosaiking of the Mediterranean Sea (in a time span of about a day) through medium resolution acquisition. This innovative capability, expandable to other areas, is assured through the combination of two concepts, i.e. an orbital architecture based on the exploitation of SAR satellites placed on inclined orbital planes guarantying an efficient coverage of the Mediterranean basin and SAR sensors capable to ensure a wide and adequate access area. In emergencies, the system can – on demand – switch to Urgent Mode, performing high resolution acquisition and delivering the product (a single acquisition) to the customer in few hours.
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