Location Optimization of VTS Radar Stations Considering Environmental Occlusion and Radar Attenuation

Chuan Huang,Li-Qian Sun,Jing Lu

doi:10.3390/ijgi11030183

Abstract

Waterway traffic monitoring is an important content in waterway traffic management. Taking into account that the number of monitored water areas is growing and that waterway traffic management capabilities are insufficient in the current situation in China, this paper investigates the location optimization of the vessel traffic service (VTS) radar station. During the research process, radar attenuation and environmental occlusion, as well as variable coverage radius and multiple covering are all considered. In terms of the radar attenuation phenomenon in the propagation process and obstacles such as mountains and islands in the real world, judgment and evaluation methods in a three-dimensional space are proposed. Moreover, a bi-objective mathematical model is then developed, as well as a modified adaptive strategy particle swarm optimization algorithm. Finally, a numerical example and a case are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed methods, model, and algorithm. The results show the methods, model, and algorithm proposed in this paper can solve the model efficiently and provide a method to optimize the VTS radar station location in practice.

Highlights

The rapid development of maritime transportation has increased the number of vessels operating on waterways
A numerical example is defined that is derived from a real-world vessel traffic services (VTS) radar station numerical example is defined that is derived from a real-world VTS radar station location optimization project
This paper investigates the location optimization problem of VTS radar stations in This paper investigates the location optimization problem of VTS radar stations in the presence of environmental obstacles and radar attenuation

Summary

Introduction

The rapid development of maritime transportation has increased the number of vessels operating on waterways. The number of accidents involving waterway traffic is increasing as well. There were 137 waterway traffic accidents in China in 2019, resulting in 155 fatalities or disappearances and 46 shipwrecks, with a direct economic loss of 179.87 million CNY (about US $27.84 million) [2]. To ensure the safety of sailing ships, maritime authorities have increasingly relied on vessel traffic services (VTS) to regulate marine traffic [3]. The International Maritime Organization and the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities have defined vessel traffic service as a shore-based facility that monitors sailing ships and ensures maritime safety through the use of communication facilities such as automatic identification system, radar station, closed-circuit television, and very high frequency. China currently has approximately 50 VTS centers and 200 VTS radar stations [2]

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