Blue Force Tracking: The Impact on the Automatic Identification System AIS Very High Frequency Data

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Blue Force TrackingThe Impact on the Automatic
Identification System (AIS) Very High Frequency
Data Link (VDL)

• 1/c Aten, 1/c Couture,1/c Davis
• Project Advisor LCDR Oatman
• Sponsor LCDR St. Pierre (CG-641)

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Outline

• Background and History of BFT
• Problem Statement
• Design Solution
• Numerical Analysis of Sector/port Data
• The Simulation Software
• Alternatives Analysis
• Product to the Sponsor

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BFTs Potential to Enhance Coast Guard Operations
17 December 2007
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Sensitive But Unclassified Tactical Exchange
Display System (STEDS)

• Developed by CG-641
• Based on International Telecommunication Union
  (ITU) Standards
• Strategy for implementing BFT over the AIS VDL
• Currently using Messages 6/8
• Proposal to use Messages 25/26

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• Position reports
• Vessel of interest
• data
• Text messages
• Overlays

BFT Operational Requirements
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Current State of BFT

• Impacts commercial Class A AIS vessels
• Politeness issues with Messages 6/8
• Uses more slots than necessary for AES encryption
• Possibility of overlapping slot reservations and
  blurring data in the slot

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Vessel D Blue Forces
AIS Overview, http//www.navcen.uscg.gov/enav/ai
s/default.htm (accessed December 2007.)
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Project Objectives

• Explore impact of BFT on the AIS VDL for
  commercial Class A vessels
• Determine if BFT AIS meets CG operational
  requirements
• Compare BFT AIS to ongoing prototypes

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Acquire Sector/Port Data
Quantify Data
Translate Data Into Space Requirements For
Simulation Software
Define Vessel Types
Redefine Slots
Modify the Simulation Software
Design Flow Diagram
Run Simulation and Interpret Results
Develop AIS Impact Assessment/Recommendation
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Data Acquisition

• Numerical analysis to determine minimum and
  maximum loading scenarios for BFT
• Consists of Operational summaries, Vessel traffic
  service annual reports, SAR and LE logs, and
  surveys

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Simulation

• UAIS does not model messages
• Slot definitions based on actual Sector/port data

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Compare/contrast

• 6 categories will be used during analysis
• Interoperability, User Friendliness,
  Maintenance/Support, Performance, Cost and
  Security

Cost Analysis
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Conclusion

• BFT has potential to enhance CG interagency and
  international operations
• The impact of STEDS Messages 25/26 on AIS VDL
  will be assessed using operational data and UAIS
  Simulation software
• An assessment of BFT over AIS will be provided to
  CG-641