Algorithms for ship detection and tracking using satellite imagery

Ship detection and tracking are important to maintain a Recognized Maritime Picture (RMP). Satellite surveillance provides wide area coverage but is often limited by revisit times and by the time taken to process the imagery, analyze it and send messages in an appropriate format to update the RMP. The paper describes the development of a new ship detection and tracking program that is designed to analyze processed imagery rapidly and inexpensively and to deliver messages automatically by email in the OTH Gold format. The message can include ship position, length, heading and speed. The program structure is designed to be versatile, flexible and extendable and a RADARSAT image can be loaded and analyzed and a message sent typically in less than one minute