AIS integration with ECDIS and Radar - Essay Example

The integration of AIS with an 'Electronic chart display and information system' (ECDIS) has resulted in a revolution in the field of offshore marine communication. ECDIS, better known as 'Electronic nautical chart', is a name given to nautical chart representations on computers (Scheuermann, Wolf, 1996). However nautical chart representation is one of the aspects of ECDIS. ECDIS is a complete information system, providing all the necessary information about whatever is displayed on the chart (Scheuermann, Wolf, 1996).

AIS integration with ECDIS and radar Targets from the radar and from AIS can simultaneously be plotted on an electronic chart (Strenge, Rainer, & Bober, Stefan, 2004). Thus signals from both radar and AIS can be acquired and depending on the requirement, the information can be collected from either of the two sources or from both of them. The positioning of the target on the electronic chart is carried out by the DGPS positioning system and in addition through the radar map matching process that was developed by Stuttgart University (Strenge, Rainer, & Bober, Stefan, 2004).

The ships have large electronic chart displays (ECDIS) installed on them on which AIS data and radar information from other ships is superimposed. These large displays have nowadays been replaced by small and portable computers.The port services have the responsibility to monitor the ship traffic. AIS provides them the information like identification by MMSI number, call sign or name, and other relevant information by which they can control the traffic (Andrianov, Mikhail, n.d.). This information is displayed on ECDIS.

The availability of AIS with inbuilt DGPS systems ensures high accuracy of detection of targets (up to 10 meters). If the data about the dimensions are available AIS can detect and plot the targets with very high accuracy on electronic charts (Andrianov, Mikhail, n.d.). The amount of accuracy is so much that the distance between even two closely spaced ships can be known by examining their positions on the chart. Besides this, reliable online communication with the ships is achieved. As we are using 'electronic' charts, communication can also be in the form of text messaging.

The text message however does not interfere with other details making it safe for the ship (Andrianov, Mikhail, n.d.). This service is not only used by the port authorities but is also used for ship to ship communication. AIS-ECDIS system has numerous advantages over traditional systems such as radar. One of such advantages is the collision avoidance by knowing the speed, heading and direction of the turn, which cannot be provided by radar (Motz, Florian,& Widdel, Heino,& Oei, Parry,& Kiat, Lim Wee, n.d.).

On suspecting a collision risk, the ECDIS can obtain the parameters of the target after identifying it and establish communication by transmitting a message (safety message) through AIS if the target does not respond to normal communication (Andrianov, Mikhail, n.d.). This message will be prompted on the screen of the target ship. The AIS-ECDIS system is extremely helpful in limited visibility conditions as AIS also provides information about the motion status of the target (Andrianov, Mikhail, n.d.).

Apart from the target data AIS-ECDIS system also provides the navigator with weather information. It also provides data about the real-time tidal height, tidal stream, etc. This system also allows the navigators to monitor the routes as well as the targets simultaneously as the ECDIS displays both of them (Andrianov, Mikhail, n.d.).