Mobile Data Fusion from Multiple Tracking Sensors to Augment Maritime Safety: Mobile Detection, Early Identification, and Tracking of Moving Objects

Abstract

We present a novel mobile solution to provide efficient services for data fusion towards augmenting maritime safety. It is the first, to the best authors knowledge, complex and integrated fusion of data coming from multiple mobile and typical tracking sensors (e.g. Low weight/high performance radar, position transmission mechanisms and electro-optic/systems and hyper-spectral sensors). The key aim is to assist the detection and early identification and tracking of moving targets (e.g. With moving target indication and data fusion/correlation capabilities), as well as methods for obstacle detection and maritime surveillance. Maritime mobile services have to exchange real time data with multiple maritime/aerial assets no matter where the operation is conducted (close to harbors or at the open sea) and independently from the existing surveillance infrastructure. The proposed approach is also useful for the detection of marine pollution incidents. This innovative single window solution presents high efficiency, low operational costs' profiles and possibly contributes to standardization in construction as it utilizes typical tracking infrastructure and typical mobile devices (smartphones and tablets/ipads) & PCs.