Northwest Atlantic Vessel Density Maps from 2013 to 2022 AIS Data

2013 to 2022 vessel density maps derived from Automatic Identification System (AIS) data for the Northwest Atlantic, portraying shipping patterns before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The dataset, produced by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, includes yearly and monthly density maps for all vessel classes combined and yearly maps for individual vessel classes. These maps support spatial analysis and decision-making for marine spatial planning.

Use Cases

• Analyze temporal shipping density trends from 2013 to 2022 using yearly vessel density maps to assess pandemic impacts on maritime transport.
• Compare monthly vessel density maps for all vessel classes to identify seasonal shipping patterns in the Northwest Atlantic.
• Conduct spatial analysis for marine planning using yearly density maps of specific vessel classes to understand sectoral traffic distribution.
• Integrate GEOTIF or ESRI REST service layers into GIS software for environmental impact assessments based on vessel traffic density.

Strengths

• Covers a 10-year time series from 2013 to 2022, providing a long-term view of maritime traffic.
• Includes multiple data products: PNG, GEOTIF, ESRI REST, and PDF formats for different analytical needs.
• Focuses on the Northwest Atlantic region, a key area for maritime transport and environmental studies.
• Based on AIS data typically required for vessels over 300 gross tonnage, ensuring coverage of major commercial shipping.

Limitations

• Underlying AIS data granularity (e.g., individual vessel tracks) is not directly accessible; only pre-processed density map products are provided.
• The analysis year 2019 is described as pre-pandemic, but maps for 2020-2022 may reflect pandemic-related anomalies without specific context.
• Data is presented as aggregated density maps, limiting analyses requiring raw, vessel-level positional or identification information.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis of global satellite and terrestrial-based Automatic Identification System (AIS) data.

Time Range

2013 to 2022

Freshness

Last updated in March 2026, with data covering up to the year 2022.

Geography

Northwest Atlantic