AIS - an interesting by-product

[Hurricane]

I read with interest in the current MBY that Trinity House is trialling "virtual navigation buoys".

I've always considered that lighthouses can transmit their own AIS data themselves but I'd missed the point that a hazard can be "marked" from a coastal station nowhere near the actual hazard.

Could be some 20 miles away. Marks can be set instantly - without even having to drop or maintain a buoy.

A TSS could be "virtually marked" for example. I'm sure that there are loads of other interesting by-products from this technology.

Just think about how the future could be.
Cheap plotters with integrated AIS on every boat.

I'm not suggesting that conventional nav marking should be scrapped but it does show how this technology can enhance our safety systems.

I know that there are already web sites that post AIS movements but it isnt too difficult for the authorities to set up a "national net" of AIS stations that could repeat this data although there must be a limit with the current AIS implementation.

Thoughts???

 

[BrendanS]

It's been commented here on the forums previously, that some RN boats have jumped a few hundred miles in seconds, during what appeared to be AIS tests.

 

[RogerRat]

Could be used as weapon of misinformation. The RN could place a whole 'virtual fleet' in the gulf! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[nimbusgb]

Seems a bit of an odd way to do things really since you are relying on vessels having AIS and a plotting system.

Why not just publish an official list of points to be fed into your GPS as hazards. A hell of a lot more people have GPS than have AIS. Put the list on the web. The list could also be streamed out on some RF frequency ( similar to WAAS )

 

[Hoolie]

[ QUOTE ]
The list could also be streamed out on some RF frequency ( similar to WAAS )

[/ QUOTE ]
... ... or AIS?

 

[Frontier]

yes having the hazard data downloaded with the positioning information and plotters automatically showing it woudl be good. A bit like speed camera detectors /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Hurricane]

[ QUOTE ]
A hell of a lot more people have GPS than have AIS.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes but a few years ago when GPS itself was new, you wouldnt have said that - just think of the future when everyone has AIS on board as well - to receive it is only very simple electronics interfaced with your plotter.

I'm not sure whether everyone's grasped this concept yet.

It isn't the vessels that I'm talking about - it's fixed hazards that can be activated "virtually" at the press of a button.

 

[nonitoo]

Just think of the disinformation you could promulgate in pilotage waters !

Sounds fascinating - and scary !

Tom

 

[sjtindale]

If your interested by virtual navigation then there are some interesting podcasts by the Royal Institute of Navigation on AtoN (Aids to Navigation) being projected and some other quite interesting concepts. I have to agree with Hurricane the possibilities of being able to set up a warning through AIS is brilliant. If you remember a few years ago when a RORO capsized mid channel a few days later a freighter collided with the capsized vessel. This could be automatically put on vsl's ECDIS so if they dont read the NTMs then they still have the information displayed.

 

[Wiggo]

Another perfect example of misinformation - using "AIS tests" to disguise the tests of the RN's new warp drive system...