Maritime Traffic Model Aided Tracking

Navy operations in congested littoral areas or when transiting straits is very challenging for force protection because of heavy traffic ranging from small pleasure craft and fishing vessels, to very large cargo ships and barges that are navigating in close proximity. Constructing and maintaining the track picture over long periods of time under these conditions is particularly difficult because there needs to be a methodology employed that uses an accrual of information about the surface contacts to enable high probability of re-association. The use of advanced techniques that exploit high range resolution (HRR) interrogations, EO/IR imagery and surface vessel electromagnetic emissions (AIS and non-AIS) all play a major role in establishing and maintaining the surface contact picture over large periods of time. However, smaller vessels with very few distinguishing features that irregularly or never emit are particularly challenging. The use of a maritime traffic model to further augment the track picture is potentially high value for improved track performance against small non-emitting surface vessels.