1. Providing e-Navigation on Inland Rivers with AIS
Building Strong

2. Alion Science and Technology
eMSI Demonstration
What
Distribute electronic Maritime Safety Information (e-MSI) information using the Automatic Identification System (AIS)
When
Project started early 2016
Where
Along a reach of the Lower Ohio River and adjacent reaches of the Mississippi River upstream and downstream from Cairo
Why
Enhance the safety and efficiency of navigation along inland rivers
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

3. Alion Science and Technology
New AIS Information
Synthetic AIS AToN
Virtual AIS AToN
Geographic Notices
Vessels awaiting lockage
Lock status
River current
Water depth
Weather
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

4. Processes Required to Enable AIS Transmit
Message Creation
Message Routing
Message Queuing
Message Transmission
System Monitoring
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

5. AIS Transmit Architecture
Message Creation
Portrayal
System (GUI)
Met/Hydro DB
Weather DB
Lock DB
User Created ASM
AIS Router
Queuing
Routing
ASM MGR
VDL Monitoring
AIS Transmitter
Transmission
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

6. Alion Science and Technology
Message Creation
Automatic
From database such as USACE LPMS, NOAA, NGS, etc.
Fetcher/Formatter to get data, assemble message in proper format, send to transmit chain
Manual
User-created, such as a Geographic Notice
Standard must be defined
ASMs
Embedded in NMEA BBM (or VDM) sentences
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

7. Automatic Message Creation
If the information already exists and can be accessed, it can be collected, organized, prioritized and transmitted as an AIS message
Alion has already developed software that can be configured to meet commercial, USACE and USCG end-user needs.
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

8. Manual Message Creation
Some message types (GN for example) require information from a person
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

9. Environmental Message
Used to report met/hydro information
Water levels (pool gauges)
Water current
Wind speed/direction
Temperature
Weather
Air gap
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

10. Waterways Management Message
Used to facilitate vessel traffic movement in confined waters
List of vessels through a point
Vessels awaiting lockage
Procession Order
Enter/exit port
Bridge
Narrows
Gate
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

11. Alion Science and Technology
Geographic Notice
Used to transmit time-critical information linked to an area
Safety/Security zone
Caution area
Hazards to navigation
Routes
Distress
Areas can be
Circles/Rectangles
Polygons
Sectors
Polylines
!AIVDM,2,1,0,A,85M:Ih1KmPA`tBAs85`01cON31N;U`P00000H;Gl1gfp52tjFq20H3r9P000,0*64
!AIVDM,2,2,0,A, bPbJT1Q9hd680000,0*03
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

12. Alion Science and Technology
Message Routing
Getting the message from the source to the desired transmitter or transmitters
According to the area the content of the message applies to (i.e., “broadcast”)
To reach a specific addressee (auto or user-specified; i.e., “addressed”)
Implemented by “AIS Router”
CNS DataSwitch for example
To route messages needs TAG destination parameter
Ideally would like to shield the user from the TAGs and let user select based upon geography…
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

13. Alion Science and Technology
Message Queuing
Functionality missing from other components is added by ASM Manager software
Ensures messages are valid before transmission
Buffers the incoming messages
Allows for message prioritization
Allows for geographic restriction [Message Routing]
Manages the queue of messages
Ensures all messages are transmitted [VDL Monitoring]
Guarantees transmission [Message Transmission]
Sender acknowledgments [VDL Monitoring]
Message repetition
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

14. Alion Science and Technology
Message Transmission
Message transmitted by AIS base station (or AIS AtoN)
Manual programming of transmitter using vender software
NMEA sentence programming
AID
ACF
ACE
AAR for virtual AtoNs
BBM for ASMs
Directly-created AIS message
VDM for ASMs (or anything)
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

15. Test Bed Transmitter Locations and Coverage
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

16. Alion Science and Technology
Monitoring
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

17. Alion Science and Technology
Portrayal
Manufactures like Rose Point™ work with their end-users to determine the best way to display the new AIS information
Different customers will have different needs and preferences.
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

18. Alion Science and Technology
Portrayal Examples
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

19. Alion Science and Technology
Portrayal Examples
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

20. Alion Science and Technology
Portrayal Examples
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

21. Alion Science and Technology
Portrayal Examples
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

22. Alion Science and Technology
Portrayal Examples
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

23. Alion Science and Technology
Portrayal Examples
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

24. Alion Science and Technology
Virtual Aids
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

25. Alion Science and Technology
LOMA Display
Additional information provided as overlay to IENC
Weather
Water levels
Lock status
Lock Currents
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

26. Lock Approach Current Models
Develop and run current models
“Library” of output
Communicate to users based on real-time conditions
Web services
Output database
AIS message
(LOMA or USCG)
Model output
AIS transceiver
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

27. Alion Science and Technology
Lock Currents
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

28. Alion Science and Technology
Path Forward
Continued Transmission of eMSI
More virtual/synthetic AtoN
Geo notices for work areas at Olmsted
Geo notice for Mat Sinking Unit Location
More transmitter sites
Upper Mississippi
Remainder of Ohio River
Tennessee River
Lock Queue Management
Alion Science and Technology
9/19/17

29. Thank you for your attention!
Dr. Gregory Johnson
Brian Tetreault
Michael Winkler