Volpe Center Highlights - October/November 2001
Safety
Director's Notes |
Focus |
Safety |
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Human and Natural Environment
Economic Growth |
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Papers and Presentations
Tracking Vessels on the Saint Lawrence Seaway (SLSDC)
The Center for Navigation is helping to develop a comprehensive vessel communications network for the U.S. and Canadian Saint Lawrence Seaway agencies. |
In support of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC), the Volpe Center is engaged in a project to develop and implement a new vessel traffic management system that will identify and track all commercial vessels on the Seaway. The network, which will be based on the automatic identification system (AIS) technology, will also enable the automated dissemination of waterway status information to transiting vessels. Volpe is responsible for the design and implementation of the AIS-based system.
As part of this effort, Messieurs Kam Chin, Daniel Nim, and Bryan Long of the Center for Navigation participated in a field test on the Saint Lawrence Seaway from September 17 to 21, 2001. The test was the second phase of a three-phase program to measure signal coverage for the traffic management system. Data recording equipment was installed on transiting vessels to determine the coverage area between shore stations in Orleans, New York, and Iroquois, Ontario. Test data will be analyzed to determine the number and location of base stations that will be required for an operational system that will extend from Montreal to Eastern Lake Erie.
The U.S. and Canadian Seaway agencies operate the Seaway's locks and channel. Joint operations to support this binational system include developing the AIS-based traffic control system so that transiting vessels can operate a single transponder to safely navigate throughout the entire Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway complex. |
On a related matter, Mr. Chin attended a meeting of the Advanced Technology for Navigation and Safety Committee, a joint U.S. Canadian advisory group. The major focus of this meeting was to strengthen the resolve of U.S. and Canadian agencies to have an interoperable AIS system. A strategy for the implementation of AIS technology on the waterway system was discussed.
In addition, on September 19, 2001, the Volpe team participated in a meeting with the Canadian Coast Guard to discuss strategies for information sharing among agencies and to review the current status of the Seaway AIS network implementation.
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