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Old 17-05-2012, 13:35   #1
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Google to use Satellites for real time worldwide AIS tracking

Found this interesting article today.
Google is going to track track AIS signals from satellites and make them available on Google Maps (and Google Earth, I would assume).
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Old 17-05-2012, 13:46   #2
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And we worry about the government !!
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Old 17-05-2012, 15:05   #3
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Re: Google to use Satellites for real time worldwide AIS tracking

That's funny because I was particularly amused by the section:
Quote:
Google has talked to representatives of 50 navies worldwide about their new technology and has discovered it tracks ships better than their own commanders can. "I watch them and they can't see themselves," Jone said. "It angers me as a citizen that I can do this and the entire DoD can't."
It took private enterprise to do something our government couldn't.

But on the other hand, any group, be it government, corporation, or individual with this much power and information could be scary in the future.
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Old 17-05-2012, 15:30   #4
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Re: Google to use Satellites for real time worldwide AIS tracking

In this case, evading the black helicopters is pretty easy: turn off your AIS transmitter!

What's the worry about?

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Old 17-05-2012, 15:41   #5
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Re: Google to use Satellites for real time worldwide AIS tracking

Very cool. I wonder if in the future, they can then transmit those collected AIS back to earth to allow ships at sea to pick up the signal and have over the horizon AIS capabilities.
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Old 17-05-2012, 16:09   #6
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Re: Google to use Satellites for real time worldwide AIS tracking

Try this site for fun.....

Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions

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Old 17-05-2012, 16:49   #7
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Re: Google to use Satellites for real time worldwide AIS tracking

So Google is going to have VHF receivers on a satellite. If thats true then why cant we have VHF transmissions world wide?

I also note that they say that the images are weeks old!!! I am not sure the authors of the article understand how AIS works.
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Old 17-05-2012, 17:26   #8
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Re: Google to use Satellites for real time worldwide AIS tracking

currently there is already pilot satellite AIS worldwide monitoring. There are some issues with data overloading, but its being worked on.

I dont believe google is using any of its own resources. it just tapping into others. as to what they say bout AIS and navies is just laughable,

I also suspect the IMO will have a lot to say about the process of dissemination of worldwide real time AIS.

In most countries there is a clause in your radio license pertaining to the secrecy of communication, i.e. if you hear a message not for you , you are not supposed to act union it and are required not to divulge it. AIS would qualify under that. So it remains to be seen what the legal position will ultimately be.


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So Google is going to have VHF receivers on a satellite. If thats true then why cant we have VHF transmissions world wide?
You do, its called, "Iridium"
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Old 17-05-2012, 18:22   #9
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Re: Google to use Satellites for real time worldwide AIS tracking

Is that right? There are satellites sensitive enough to read AIS signals from space? VHF antennas are not aimed upwards...especially the higher gain antennas. Some of an antennas RF is going to point above the horizon, but it still has to go through a lot of atmosphere and an even greater distance before it reaches space where attenuation and where signal strength is inversely squared to the distance, is even more of a factor.

I'm just trying to get my head around how this might work.

If it works, it would be tremendous for search and rescue.
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Old 17-05-2012, 18:38   #10
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Re: Google to use Satellites for real time worldwide AIS tracking

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Is that right? There are satellites sensitive enough to read AIS signals from space? VHF antennas are not aimed upwards...especially the higher gain antennas. Some of an antennas RF is going to point above the horizon, but it still has to go through a lot of atmosphere and an even greater distance before it reaches space where attenuation and where signal strength is inversely squared to the distance, is even more of a factor.

I'm just trying to get my head around how this might work.

If it works, it would be tremendous for search and rescue.
Yep . its coming out of test phase deployment into full usage

Satellite AIS

Norwegian AIS satellite? - Kongsberg Maritime
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Old 17-05-2012, 18:56   #11
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Re: Google to use Satellites for real time worldwide AIS tracking

I would say this is 10% good and 90% evil.

Navies around the world might want to warn boats within 5 miles to stay away, but I doubt they want some cyber warriors in some foreign country to monitor the exact location of every boat in the fleet. I guess subs are the only ones exempt from this...(that is if Navy ships around the world have to use AIS)

It makes sense for airplanes, not for small boats who are trying to anchor out by uninhabited islands.
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Old 17-05-2012, 19:01   #12
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Re: Google to use Satellites for real time worldwide AIS tracking

well, Sundevil, you can just turn it off.........

DAve
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Old 17-05-2012, 19:04   #13
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Re: Google to use Satellites for real time worldwide AIS tracking

Also, the satellites are about the size of a toaster, they are not some hugely complicated and heavy thing...

see also AIS

and Nanosatellite - Google Search
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Old 17-05-2012, 20:18   #14
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Re: Google to use Satellites for real time worldwide AIS tracking

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well, Sundevil, you can just turn it off.........

DAve
You can turn off this generation...and it is voluntary to have and operate one for personal boats of a normal length.

I know that it is unlikely, but what if Florida decides that to travel in it's waters that you need to have AIS and have it turned on. Running dark will raise big flags with the coast guard/customs/local sheriff. Or, alert them that you are trying to anchor out in a zone where that isn't permitted anymore, because now a computer can tell them which boats are anchored out there overnight and charge each boat for it.
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Old 17-05-2012, 20:35   #15
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Re: Google to use Satellites for real time worldwide AIS tracking

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Originally Posted by SunDevil View Post
You can turn off this generation...and it is voluntary to have and operate one for personal boats of a normal length.

I know that it is unlikely, but what if Florida decides that to travel in it's waters that you need to have AIS and have it turned on. Running dark will raise big flags with the coast guard/customs/local sheriff. Or, alert them that you are trying to anchor out in a zone where that isn't permitted anymore, because now a computer can tell them which boats are anchored out there overnight and charge each boat for it.
Normal length ?? All the CG needs is simple digital radar to tell where boats anchor and how long.
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