U.S. AIS Vessel Tracks from National Coastal Network

AIS Vessel Tracks 2023 contains vessel location and characteristic data transmitted by the Automatic Identification System. The dataset is collected from a national network of land-based antennas operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, managed by NOAA's Office of Coastal Management. It aids in understanding vessel distribution, type, and frequency to assess use conflicts in geographic areas.

Use Cases

• Analyze vessel track frequency and distribution to model maritime traffic density in the Exclusive Economic Zone.
• Identify gaps in vessel tracks caused by AIS signal interference to assess data coverage reliability.
• Map vessel types and their locations to understand conflicting uses in coastal and offshore planning areas.

Strengths

• Data originates from a national network operated by the authoritative U.S. Coast Guard.
• Managed by NOAA's Office of Coastal Management, ensuring federal oversight and standardization.
• Covers U.S. territorial waters including the Outer Continental Shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone.

Limitations

• Specific data volume, row count, and column schema are not provided, hindering initial assessment.
• AIS signals are noted as susceptible to interference, which may create gaps in vessel tracks.
• Available file formats are limited to ZIP and PDF, which may not be optimal for direct analysis.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.

Collection Method

Positions collected and recorded from land-based antennas as part of a U.S. Coast Guard network.

Time Range

2023

Freshness

Data was last updated on October 31, 2024, indicating recent maintenance.

Geography

United States coastal waters, Territorial Sea, Outer Continental Shelf, and Exclusive Economic Zone.