dKart Port Monitoring System is Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) specially designed to display AIS and Radar targets of  on the electronic chart. Other important features of the system include:

• querying the local VTS database

• exchanging information between shore-based stations and ship via ship-to-shore/shore-to-ship textual messages

• AIS and ARPA targets processing, archiving and monitoring.

The system includes all the necessary functionality and features that turn it into the highly efficient solution for small and medium-sized ports and harbors, marine operators and coast guards. dKart Port Monitoring System meets the needs of the maritime community for reducing collision risk and the risk of an accidental pollution-caused environment damage in the areas covered by the system.

The System contributes to resolving of the following problems:

• Increasing safety of life at sea

• Improving safety of vessel traffic

• Ship’s traffic control

• Improving environment protection

• Offshore installations protection

• Prevention of prohibited transactions, such as smuggling, illegal immigration, etc.

dKart Port Monitoring System was designed to meet the requirements and demands of IMO for AIS on SOLAS type vessels, development of shore based AIS infrastructure and IMO International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

The block scheme of dKart Port Monitoring System is shown in Figure below in its complete configuration.

Each kind of an external sensor (radar, AIS transponder, CCTV camera) forms the basis of a dedicated sub-system of the System. Brief descriptions of each sub-system along with the description of general System services (EN charts database, playback function, etc.) is given below.

dKart Monitoring Display (Operator Display Unit, ODU) is the kernel of the System. Its purpose is to display information arriving from the sensors of the System on the background of electronic charts.

The Display can also be used to control remote sensors and information exchange within the System in general.

The key functions of dKart Monitoring Display are:

• Displaying of information arriving from the sensors of the System on the monitor screen over the electronic chart backdrop

• Recognition and monitoring of objects within the System range

• Radar image overlay

• AIS targets display

• Remote sensor control

• CCTV tracking of targets

• Warning/Alarm generation according to user-defined criteria

• Recording and replay of navigational situations and radio communications

The System may comprise an arbitrary number of Displays according to the customer’s demand.

Each workstation on which dKart Monitoring Display software is installed can be configured independently regarding connections to databases of the System, access rights, available functionalities and specification of info to be shown/hidden on the screen.

dKart Monitoring Display can be connected both to local and/or remote radars. The operator is also given functionalities to control radar performance. Radar info is processed using Radar Processors (RP) from prominent producers. RP types are chosen according to the System performance specific features at the customer’s.

Both “raw” and synthesized radar image can be laid over electronic charts, e.g. including recognized (automatically or manually) target parameters.

Meanwhile, safety and radiolocation support tasks can also be resolved using the “on chart” technique.

Radar info can be considered trustworthy and reliable at the most due to robust processing algorithms used with the RPs

Much like with radars, dKart Monitoring Display can receive info from both local and remote AIS base stations and control their performance. Moreover, target related info can also be received from other VTMS systems and even from foreign monitoring systems.

Graphic interface of AIS target monitoring software has been developed following the general principles typical for most MS applications.

AIS info is continuously saved into the Central Database for further replay.

dKart Monitoring Display can be connected to a video camera. Remote control functionalities are also provided, as well as the automatic focusing function at a selected vessel and further tracking it in such a way that the vessel image stays constantly on the screen. Targeting the camera can be done directly using the “on chart” technique, and so can other settings too.

The CCTV subsystem is intended to support port monitoring with visual image of the surveyed area. The System allows connection to up to 4 CCTV video cameras each of which can be independently controlled by the ODU operator using the “on chart” technique regarding the zoom, tilt, etc. CCTV image can be shown on a dedicated ODU or in a dedicated TV window on the central ODU, in which access to CCTV related functionalities is provided through a graphic user-friendly interface.

The System can display electronic charts in various formats, CM93/3 among them as one of the most popular. Having got type approval from IHO, CM93/3 can equally be used as a transfer format of data produced by C-MAP and national Hydrographic Offices. CM93/3 makes use of highly effective compression technique, which allows to place the complete world coverage onto a single CD. A C-MAP subscriber gets access to a unique real-time chart updating service.

Besides, with dKart Monitoring Display software S-57/3-formatted charts produced by national HOs are handled directly. Updating service for S-57/3 charts is also provided on the basis of new info from those HOs or RENCs.

A built-in graphic editor allows manipulation with user-defined objects (areas, sings, etc.) “laid over” official charts (so-called "user-layer" functionality).

Charts are stored in a centralized database at the System’s server being equally available to all components of the System. Storing scheme like this saves space on the HDDs and ensures consistent updating.

The System uses the Central Database (Database of Navigational Situation) to store information related to traffic monitoring (e.g. tracked target coordinates, speeds and courses, special area coordinates and sailing conditions, etc.). Particular components of the System get necessary information by querying this Central Database. The architecture like this automatically ensures consistency of information in all components of the System.

An extended functionality is offered to construct a wide variety of queries. Information returned by a query allows adjustable “on chart” and “in table” presentations.

The Central Database resides on a MS SQL or Oracle DB platform.
In fact, the Central Database is an aggregation of dedicated sub-databases, such as:

• Radar targets DB

• AIS targets DB

Separated storage of AIS and radar targets information makes it possible to replay navigational situation exactly in its original view and distinguish between different targets or integrate identical ones using target integrator.

• Logbook - stores various events, warnings and alarms generated by the system

• AIS stations - stores information on AIS stations that the system can communicate with.

• Aids to Navigation - stores NavAids objects.

• Ships - stores information on ships, e.g. according to the Lloyd’s register

• Special Areas - stores coordinates of areas with special conditions of navigation by course, draught and speed and the conditions themselves.

• Route DB - stores most popular routes, which targets must follow.

• Training scenarios DB - stores training scenarios for trainees

• User Layer DB - Stores the so-called user’s layers. Although it is a centralized database, its configuration is different for different users.

• Chart DB - stores charts laid as a background for AIS target monitoring

Additionally, the Target Integrator utility is installed on the System server, which insures recognition of signals coming from the same target via different channels (e.g. AIS transponder and radar). After the recognition, a query can be sent to the Port Database, which returns new info concerning the ship’s freight, customs formalities, etc. Signals from the same target are combined to yield more accurate estimates of the target movement parameters.

Since all information coming into the System is continuously saved into the Central Database, it can
be replayed exactly in its original form. The fragment of info to be replayed can be defined by:

• Area

• Time/ Date

• Ship’s name

• MMSI

• Call sign
  

While replay is running, the user can adjust presentation of information on the screen e.g. moving significant details to the fore ground and hiding others, etc. Original alarms and radio communications are replayed too synchronized with the picture on the screen. Time limit for info recording/replay depends only on the memory size and can be set by the operator. Automatic back-up function increases safety of info even more.

The function is realized through a Windows-type graphic user-friendly interface. Replay on the chart is supported by the logbook shown in a tabular form.

Modular approach underlies the architecture of the System. This means that the System is built from dedicated units (hard- and software), or sub-systems, in a way matching the customer’s requirements.

Besides, modular architecture of dKart Port Monitoring System allows integration with analogous systems by other producers already installed at the customer’s so that overall technical capabilities increase greatly.

The key Subsystems are:

• Radar

• AIS

• Database

• CCTV

• VHF

• Direction Finder

supported by the most popular auxiliary subsystems

• Weather database

• Internet

• Others

Each Subsystem implements an independent technological solution, which interacts with the other subsystems via standard interfaces, and this is exactly what makes customization of the System possible. For example, the System can be configured to receive signals from local or remote sensors, execute remote sensor diagnostics and control, use various data links, etc. Upgrading the System is easy too due to its modular architecture.

Please contact us for further information by E-mail: market@morintech.ru