About this shipping network

This tool is designed to illustrate on-going research on AIS data analysis at Geo4Seas.

These first results provide a hierarchical spatial network for the shipping activities based on traffic intensity. Descriptive statistics of the traffic (minimum, median and maximum numbers of trajectories) for each trajectories segments are also indicated.

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The dashboard allows you to explore the shipping network in the Channel.

1. Mouse over on segments of the network for highlighting:

• the median number of trajectories (with minimum and maximum),
• the Strahler index (reflecting the network hierarchy).

2. Swith the panels to access to the network by ship type (cargos, tankers, passengers, pleasure craft…) and to explore the temporal variation of the maritime traffic by ship type.

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Method:

The method used to define this hierarchical spatial network relies on automatically identifying the nodes (prominent ports and points of interest, i.e turning points) and the segments or connections defined as the least cost pathways between nodes. Spatial constraints is characterised by a composite friction layer that is dependent on the distribution of trajectory density as well as Strahler’s hierarchical networks (Strahler, 1957). For further details on the methodology, please contact Damien Le Guyader.

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Credits:

The shipping network has been analysed with AIS raw data (2015) provided by Orbcomm, using a specific algorithm developped with free an open source softwares (R and GRASS GIS).

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References:

Le Guyader D.(in prep). Hierarchical shipping network identification based on traffic intensity.

Strahler, A.N., 1957. Quantitative analysis of watershed geomorphology. Eos Trans. AGU 38, 913–920. doi:10.1029/TR038i006p00913