White Paper: Understanding satellite AIS and the SDPOB Advantage

Abstract

WHITE PAPER: UNDERSTANDING SATELLITE AIS AND THE SDPOB ADVANTAGE Abstract: Satellite Automatic Identification Systems (S-AIS) provide a means to track the location of vessels anywhere in the world, especially over open oceans and beyond the reach of terrestrial-based AIS systems. In this paper, we will examine the facts that are essential when deciding on which Satellite AIS system to use. This includes a closer look at whether Spectrum Decollision Processing (SDP) is effective on-board a satellite; the advantages of multiple satellites frequently passing over the same area to collect AIS data and the benefit of an extensive ground station infrastructure. Brief Overview of How AIS Works Class-A AIS transponders are installed on most vessels over 300GT on international voyages while many smaller vessels are outfitted with the simpler and lower cost Class-B AIS transponders. In both cases, the transponders automatically broadcast information, such as the vessel’s position, speed, and naviga