Demands on security, safety, and environmental protection in worldwide shipping are steadily increasing. Shipboard broadcast transponders based on the Automatic Identification System (AIS) can be easily detected close to coastal or waterway areas. Satellite-based AIS receivers detect globally but are limited in high-density traffic areas. This paper investigates the challenges and performance of AIS detection on aircraft at altitudes between 8 500 m and 10 000 m. During flight trials over sea and land, AIS signals were recorded. Post-processing of the recorded data allows the evaluation but also faces challenges due to the nature of overlapping AIS signals at the aircraft. A comparison of detected signals at the aircraft with received AIS signals on the ground is given, including the evaluation of the reception footprint of the aircraft. Finally, a concept for worldwide AIS detection via airliners is presented. The study shows the potential for global complementary surveillance coverage via airliner-based AIS detection.

During flight trials over sea and land, AIS signals were recorded by an aircraft in flight level 280 up to 330, which represents the higher altitudes between 8500m and 10000m. These stored data were post-processed and analyzed. Within this paper, the approach of data's post-processing is described, the experienced characteristics to be handled, and challenges faced by the nature of overlapping AIS signals at the aircraft are highlighted. Finally, a comparison of detected signals at the aircraft with received AIS signals on-ground is given including the evaluation of the reception footprint of the aircraft in different altitudes. This gives insight in the detection probability by using aircraft in high altitudes for AIS signal detection.

No abstract

No abstract