Maritime domain awareness in South Africa: A multisource approach using remote sensing and AIS data

Abstract

Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) is a key factor in ensuring the security, safety, economy, and environment of the maritime domain. Due to the large size of the EEZ, vessel tracking is essential for security, economy, tourism, and safety. However, the failure of one of the two Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellites has posed a significant challenge, hindering the effectiveness of monitoring dark targets. To address this limitation, this study presents the integration of multiple data sources, allowing the mapping of both vessels and dark targets while providing comprehensive analytics to inform decision makers and improve South Africa’s maritime domain awareness efforts. The results demonstrated the potential of combining SAR, optical and AIS data to effectively monitor and manage vessel activities in the South African EEZ. Using these diverse data sources, decision makers can gain real-time insights into maritime traffic, identify potential risks or illicit activities, and make informed decisions to protect national interests and promote sustainable practises within the maritime domain.