Maritime Route Delineation using AIS Data from the Atlantic Coast of the US
This study examines maritime routes between ports along the Atlantic coast of the US, utilising Automated Identification System (AIS) data for the years 2010 through 2012. The delineation of vessel routes conducted in this study was motivated by development planned for offshore Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) along the Atlantic coast of the US and the need to evaluate the effect of these development areas on commercial shipping. To this end, available AIS data were processed to generate commercial vessel tracks for individual vessels, though cargo vessels are the focus in this study. The individual vessel tracks were sampled at transects placed along the Atlantic coast. The transect samples were analysed and partitioned by voyages between Atlantic ports to facilitate computation of vessel routes between ports. The route boundary analysis utilised a definition from UK guidance in which routes' boundaries encompassed 95% of the vessel traffic between ports. In addition to delineating route boundaries, we found multi-modal transverse distributions of vessels for well-travelled routes, which indicated preference for lanes of travel within the delineated routes.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 1343172
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-120338; 400406000
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Navigation, Journal Name: Journal of Navigation Journal Issue: 02 Vol. 70; ISSN 0373-4633
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Risk Assessment for Marine Vessel Traffic and Wind Energy Development in the Atlantic
AIS-based characterization of navigation conflicts along the US Atlantic Coast prior to development of wind energy