Help Content > Import Data > Other Format > AIS

Purpose

AIS data are imported to generate a shapefile for further processing.

Technical Note

This tool allows importing AIS marine traffic information and convert the file into shapefiles. The dynamic (position) messages are stored in a point-type shapefile, while positions belonging to the same code (MMSI) are merged together and with the corresponding static messages and stored as polylines in a second track shapefile; another point shapefile is generated for messages from stations, if present.

Supported formats are:

- NMEA 0183, National Marine Electronics Association;

- CSV. For this format data, the column of the csv file in which the parameter is reported can be specified in the Principal Parameters. A specific tab, CSV field, is also present in the Parameter tab.

Supported messages are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 18, 19, 24, 27.

- shp: in GEO-GLOBAL Coordinate System.

Limitation on message 27: due to the length of message 27, that sometimes can be shorter than other supported messages, and to errors in the reported coordinates, that sometimes can be replicated with different times, errors in precision can occur. They are managed in a separate file and the error message is reported in a dbf file.

The country of origin of each vessel is annotated, according to the first three digits of the MMSI code of each message (Maritime Identification Digits).

Supported Products

Text files (.txt)

nm4 files (.nm4)

csv files (.csv)

shapefiles (.shp)

Input Files

Input file list

Input file name(s) of the original AIS data. These files are mandatory.

Parameters - Principal Parameters

AIS format

The AIS format of the input files has to be defined between the supported NMEA, CSV and shp formats.

Generate KML

By setting this flag an ASCII file containing the imported data points in geographic co-ordinates created in the output directory. Double click on this file will automatically position the AIS data into the Google Earth environment.

Import Incorrect AIS

By setting this flag to True, also AIS messages non-complying to the standard are imported.

Non-compliance could correspond to too short messages, CRC check not successful or non-valid coordinates. If the flag is active, non-valid messages are registered in separated file respect to the valid ones.

The following optional parameters identify the start and the end dates of the period for which messages are imported (temporal filtering); these parameters are used, if present, only for messages contained in a csv file.

Start Day: start day of the desired import period.

Start Month: start month of the desired import period.

Start Year: start year of the desired import period.

End Day: end day desired import period.

End Month: end month desired import period.

End Year: end year desired import period.

The following parameters identify the column of the csv file where each parameter is specified. The value equal to -1 specifies that this parameter is optional. A value higher than -1 specifies that this parameter is mandatory, and in which column is annotated, starting from 0.

Time Stamp: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the UTC second when the report was generated by the electronic position system (EPFS) is annotated.

Type Of Mobile: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the type of mobile station is annotated .

MMSI: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the 9-digit ID for the ship’s Mobile Marine Service Identifier is annotated.

Latitude: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the latitude is annotated.

Longitude: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the longitude is annotated.

Navigational Status: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the navigation status is annotated.

ROT: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the Rate of Turn (in degrees/min) is annotated.

SOG: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the Speed Over Ground is annotated.

COG: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the Course Over Ground is annotated.

Heading: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the transmitting heading device is annotated.

IMO: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the IMO ship ID number is annotated.

Callsign: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the callsign (7 six-bit characters) is annotated.

Ship Name: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the ship name is annotated.

Ship Type: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the ship type is annotated.

Cargo Type: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the cargo type is annotated.

Width: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the ship width (in m) is annotated.

Lenght: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the ship length (in m) is annotated.

Type of Position Fixing Device: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the type of position fixing device is annotated (GPS, integrated navigation system, etc.).

Draught: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the draught (value*0.01 m) is annotated.

Destination: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the destination is annotated.

ETA: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the Estimated Time of Arrival at the destination is annotated.

Data Source Type: it identifies the column of the csv file in which the data source type is annotated.

Number Of First Lines To Skip: it identifies the number of lines to skip in case the first row in the file are filled with text. Insert 0 in case no description text is included.

Speed Factor: it identifies the speed factor to convert the value in knots*10. A value equal to 1 multiplies it for a factor of 1 (the speed is expressed in knots), a value equal to 0.1 multiplies it.

Separator: it identifies the separator delimiter used in the file.

Time Buffer In Minutes: it identifies the total time buffer to be considered during the import respect to the time extracted from a Reference Image, when provided as additional input during csv data import.

Optional Files

This panel is activated only for CSV and shp format.

AIS Reference image

In case of CSV import, a geocoded image file can be uploaded to specify a region of interest. Only the points intersecting this region will be imported. If an acquisition time is available on the .sml file of the reference image, only points temporally close to this reference time are imported. This file is optional.

AIS Reference shape

In case of CSV import, a vector file (.shp) can be uploaded to specify a region of interest. Only the points intersecting this region will be imported. This file is optional.

Parameters - Global

None.

Parameters - Other Parameters

It brings to the general section of the Preferences parameters. Any modified value will be used and stored for further processing sessions.

Parameters - CSV Parameters

It is activated only in case a csv file format is considered.

Output Files

Only the .shp file name has to be defined in the output. The other files will be automatically created.

*.shp

Point shape file (plus .dbf and .shx) containing points associated to vessels. The attribute table contains following parameters (when available):

MMSI, Navigation type, speed, Course Over, True Headin, Time, Provider, Class and Type.

*_tracks.shp

Polyline shape file (plus .dbf and .shx) containing tracks of vessels. The attribute table contains following parameters (when available):

MMSI, Provider, Class, Time, IMONumber, CallSign, VesselName, ShipType, DimToBow, DimToStern, DimToPort, DimToStarb, ETA, Draught, Destination and Country of the Vessel.

*_stations.shp

Point shape file (plus .dbf and .shx) containing the position of the AIS ground stations.

.kml

ASCII file containing the tracks of the _tracks.shp file. Double clicking on this file will automatically position the tracks into the Google Earth environment.

Details specific to the Units of Measure and Nomenclature of the output products can be found in the Data Format section.

General Functions

Exec

The processing step is executed.

Store Batch

The processing step is stored in the batch list. The Batch Browser button allows to load the batch processing list.

The window will be closed.

Help

Specific help document section.

Specific Function(s)

None.

Import Data - Import AIS

Import Data - Import AIS