Vessel Tracking Data Used for Ocean Planning

Vessel traffic data, or Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, are collected by the U.S. Coast Guard through an onboard navigation safety device that transmits the location and characteristics of large vessels for tracking in real time. The MarineCadastre.gov project team has worked with the Coast Guard and NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey to repurpose and make available some of the most important data for use in ocean planning applications. This webinar provides an overview of the data available and examples of how the MarineCadastre.gov AIS data are being used, including scoping wind planning areas, evaluating ship anchorage areas, and analyzing changes to shipping lanes through a national marine sanctuary.