Navigational Risk Assessments (NRAs) are fundamental to safeguarding shipping and navigation when seeking to develop or upgrade maritime structures or operations in the marine environment.
Challenge
Integral to NRA is developing an understanding of how an area is used, this is formed through the analysis of vessel traffic data.
Whilst robust, reliable location and movement data is available for commercial, and some large recreational vessels, no such data are available for recreational water users – small craft, dinghies, rowers, kayakers etc. Instead, information on the movements and volumes of recreational water users is gathered through stakeholder engagement and direct observation. The former is very subjective, the latter can be resource intensive, time-limited and expensive.
Solution
With the support of an Innovate UK grant and our partner Brunel University London, we were able to harness advances in the capability of Artificial Intelligence (AI) image recognition to develop and extend the capability of our AI platform.
The readily deployed AI system can take a camera feed, process, identify and record different types of recreational craft with 95% accuracy.
The system can now recognise over 20 different watercraft users including sailing dinghies, jet skis, kayaks, rowers, coach boats and stand-up paddle boarders.
Impact
Our enhanced AI image recognition platform brings a step change in how non-AIS marine traffic can be measured and monitored.
The newly trained and adapted system can collect, process and identify recreational watercraft making understanding the use of waterways more accurate, more efficient and less costly.
And, from our perspective, will increase the accuracy and efficiency of preparing Navigation Risk Assessments (NRA) by providing robust data on recreational craft movements.
Contact Chris Hutchings to discuss how we can help you understand recreational activity in your jurisdiction.
