Generating real-time objects for a bridge ship-handling simulator based on automatic identification system data

Most accidents at sea are caused due to decision errors made by crew members. Hence, nautical education plays an important role. A common approach for training crew members is the usage of ship handling simulators. Our paper aims at increasing the closeness to real-world scenarios of simulator-based education for nautical personnel by integrating real objects into the simulation process. This integration aims at improving the learning experience leading to higher safety on sea. Since the introduction of the Automatic Identification System (AIS), which has to be installed on professional operating vessels, vessel movements can be tracked. Thus, we are using AIS data for the data integration process. Within this context several practical problems are addressed which arise in the design of a software architecture which uses live AIS data. This includes the availability of specific AIS data attributes, the AIS reporting intervals, and the mapping of AIS data to the Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) interface. Presented results have been successfully implemented in a software architecture which integrates a live AIS data stream into the simulation process of a full mission bridge simulator. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.