Satellite Automatic Identification System (SAIS) Performance Modelling and Simulation

....... An Automatic Identification System (AIS) capability on the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) will enhance the Canada First Defence Strategy goals of conducting national and continental operations and defending Canada. Key to understanding this is the ability to model and simulate satellite AIS (SAIS) performance characteristics. This report provides an overview of a statistical model implemented by C-CORE to evaluate SAIS performance. Included is a discussion on the approach and methodology employed with results presented for the specific case of the proposed AIS payload on the RCM. The model is driven by a global ship density map (GSDM) developed as a part of this project. GSDM’s are generated based on data provided by DRDC for this purpose including both SAIS data (from exactEarth) and data from the Maritime Safety and Security Information System (MSSIS). C-CORE has implemented a basic model corresponding to previous analytical and stochastic model approached reported in the literature by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) and London Research and Development Corporation (LRDC). Simple cases for RCM have been run and initial results show that standard model results (no provision for signal de-collision) indicate significant decreases in probability of detection as the number of ships in the field of view increases, while the enhanced model (with provision for de-collision techniques) shows much more favourable results. Further AIS model enhancements and improved vessel identification capability with AIS and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors co-located on a satellite platform is also discussed. DRDC Ottawa CR 2013-094 i