What if you had WiFi offshore?

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01-21-2016 11:51 AM
GuyNoll
Esri Contributor
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Ports run on information, or as Port of Rotterdam Port Object Information project manager Erwin Rademaker said in The Port of Rotterdam | Esri Video  at the 2014 Esri International User Conference, Information is the "5th Modality".  This is where Erwin showed the live "Briefing Book" access of PortMaps, the central GIS System of Record for the port. Another view from the shipping industry perspective, specifically written by Albert Thissen of Hapag-Lloyd, also requires understanding the logistics of data flow as critical as the flow of physical goods (Information – the most valuable commodity in the world | Port of Rotterdam )

These older links came to mind as I read about a proposed offshore network, or mesh, of blimp-based WiFi routers. BLUECOM+ might also utilize, where appropriate, the towers of offshore wind farms.  Such a system could enable the Sea Traffic Management (STM) system that is the next geneneration of MonaLisa 2.0 (Digital Twin decision support, in 2019 lingo). 

*UPDATE*

Since this original post in 2016, there have been examples of hacking into enterprise systems and of GPS spoofing. These show the need for cybersecurity at sea as well as in ports, and whether we are ready or not, the threat exists that these systems will be compromised. Using any compute resource, whether programmable logic controller (PLC) or more complex software, creates a risk of bad information that must be mitigated. Ideally, as with most maritime risks, the best solution is to have multiple sources of independent information that assist the mariner in situational awareness by enabling correlation. This is true for navigation, and also for weather, port berth, or contracts.  A new set of tools, based on blockchain ledger entries, will also help the mariner trust the information used for decision-making. I am excited to see solutions that are location-aware get deployed both in ports and at sea. 


What are your thoughts?  With robotic ships already in the works, what risks are becoming evident?

About the Author
I run the Mapping Systems portfolio of products, including Aeronautical, Maritime, and Topographic content production tools, Workflow Manager, Data Reviewer, and Adobe Maps. Our tools scale from individual, creative cartographic contributors to Enterprise-level information agencies. I also have Maritime Ports business leadership duties, with special interest in hydrographic mapping technologies. I am keen to see implementations of ArcGIS platform include maritime patterns such as disconnected field-oriented feature editing, real-time triggers and alerts, automated analysis, and water column visualization. I came to Esri after over 24 years in the NOAA Corps and a little time as a marine pile driving inspector. I graduated from Whitman College and Columbia University in the 3-2 Engineering program, studying Math/Physics and Civil Engineering, respectively. Although I passed my EIT, I never practiced professional engineering, as I was having too much fun driving ships and mapping the ocean in Alaska! I also completed a 3-week Harvard Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Managers and elected officials.