Geomatics for Port Safety and Security

Abstract

This work shows the results achieved using two prototypes of monitoring and processing systems that are being developed with the aim of increasing the safety and the security in harbours. The first one has been designed to help port communities (port authorities, pilots) to manage harbour waterside (optimization of ship’s navigation and cargo, dock performances, boat moorings, refloating of stranded ships, water quality control). Starting from monitoring the sea level and meteorological parameters in harbours, it can help port communities decide, e.g., when a ship with a certain draft can enter or leave the port, or which the best route to follow is (port safety). The second system, instead, deals with the monitoring of the Earth’s magnetic field in port areas for harbour protection purposes, in particular to detect the possible presence of underwater intruders, e.g. divers swimming in restricted areas (port security). The processing procedures of both systems are based not on commercial software, but on applications under development by the research team the author belongs to, by using C# and C++ languages and Matlab environment.