Generating an advanced Recognised Maritime Picture (RMP) using emerging Satellite Automatic Identification System (S-AIS) technologies allowing early identification of unusual behaviour of vessels

The Next Generation Recognised Maritime Picture (NG-RMP) project aimed to provide a system to the Irish Naval Services (INS) that generates an advanced Recognised Maritime Picture (RMP) using emerging Satellite Automatic Identification System (S-AIS) technology. In addition novel inputs such as CCTV and external database sources were integrated. Data mining and advanced visualisation techniques were applied to the gathered information for presentation to personnel within the INS HQ. Within the Next Generation Recognised Maritime Picture (NG-RMP) project, two major objectives were focused on: firstly the integration of several additional data sources that were up to then not used by the Irish Navy Services for generation of the RMP, ranging from S-AIS data, CCTV footage available in major ports, and vessel data from port and shipping authorities; secondly the addition of an automated decision support system which uses the underlying data captured from the multiple data sources to generate a dynamic and improved RMP. The decision support system used state of the art data mining, data analysis and simulations to provide early identification of unusual behaviour of vessels and to alert RMP operators to plan future investigation of these vessels by the INS. By using these emerging and state of the art technologies and the approach described above, the Irish Naval Service was able to improve its efficiency and capabilities through a better assessment of potential "suspect" vessels that need to be investigated further by both personnel within the operations centre and deployed naval vessels.