Information Gathering Tech to be Used Before Maritime Operations
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A new information gathering technology will be used for the first time with US Navy unmanned vehicle systems to improve how information is gathered before ocean and near-shore operations.
The sensor data from maritime remote vehicles is uploaded into a command center where this information can be understood faster and more holistically than ever before. The technology which was developed by Esri knits Navy data together with structured analysis to enable better decision-making.
Before this innovation, marine measurements had to be done by skilled personnel who were covertly inserted into the field. This could be dangerous and costly. Additionally, the time spent to manually integrate data collected into charts took days to complete.
Using Esri’s enterprise software, the US Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (NMOC) can now analyze collected data from the ocean such as water temperature, humidity, wind speed, and topography, all in near real-time. Navy commanders can make faster tactical decisions, better incorporating environmental conditions into operational plans. For instance, before deploying Marines onto a beach in a high-risk area, drones or other unmanned vehicles can perform reconnaissance on environmental conditions and even the presence of hazards such as land mines, according to businesswire.com.
The mapping and analytics technology allow data captured from unmanned vehicles to be incorporated into the US Navy’s enterprise to provide enhanced operational intelligence. “The use of Esri’s platform represents a huge improvement in the operational impact of data collected by unmanned marine systems,” said Dawn Wright, Esri Chief Scientist. “We look forward to delivering critical situational awareness for the US Navy during missions. Never before has ocean-based reconnaissance intelligence been both authoritative and available in near real-time.”
NMOC is the US Navy’s premier scientific command, specializing in meteorology and oceanography, and has been using Esri technology since 1997.
The company specializing in geographic information system (GIS) software offers mapping and spatial analytics technologies. Its software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations including the world’s largest cities.
