Weather4D and SailGrib improve the AIS network

Numerous AIS tracking networks broadcast over the internet are available. Among the best known : Marine Traffic, Vessel Finder, SiiTech, LocateEverything, and many others. One of these networks particularly stands out, AISHub, an AIS NMEA data sharing center, which offers developers an API allowing the integration of its network into applications, and therefore display of AIS targets received over the Internet directly into the application. Featured from the beginning in Weather4D Routing & Navigation, this system has made it possible to envisage new and particularly innovative services.

Public sharing of AIS data

The two leaders of weather, routing and navigation apps, SailGrib on Android andWeather4D on iOS, have partnered to provide this service to boaters using mobile devices. Thanks to a New server built as an AISHub network station , users of both applications can transmit via an Internet connection, not only their own location, but also those of all the received targets surrounding them, thus multiplying the number of targets in public broadcast by the AISHub network. In addition, this sharing can be achieved in direct satellite connection with an Iridium GO! while GRIB file request in the open sea (¹).

The AISHub server station 2345, administered by APP4NAV, can broadcast all AIS targets received by SailGrib and Weather4D users

In this way, wherever users are located, if they leave their AIS receivers and AIS sharing enabled in their application, even in harbour or at anchor, AIS targets they receive will be broadcast over the network, helping to improve the coverage of regions lacking land-based station.

All targets received with SailGrib by the ship (in the center) are broadcasted on AISHub network

Navigational data sharing

In addition to AIS sharing, applications can share their navigation data. Real-time atmospheric data from the ship : wind speed and direction, pressure, air temperature, and hydrological data : current speed and direction, Sea temperature, depending on the instruments connected to the app.

If all boaters provided with SailGrib or Weather4D enable their data sharing along their cruise, this will create an interesting grid for comparing the actual data recorded with weather and oceanic forecasts. We can even consider adding instant calculation of wave height and period, using internal sensors, for example the accelerometer 3 axes combined with atmospheric pressure sensor in iPad.

Thus pleasure boats become, actually, weather stations sending instant data from their respective positions. It may be of interest, furthermore boaters themselves, Rally organizers, boat owners associations, of the clubs, and even, Why not, Weather Services.

Sending the position and shared data when accessing the Weather4D servers for a GRIB download with an Iridium GO!

Private sharing on a dedicated cloud

From the record of course data, track, Weather & Hydro, a dedicated website is being developed so that boaters can collect their data in private accounts, formatted with specific pages (tracks graphic, logbook, picture icons, texts, etc,) that they can share with their loved ones in a secure way.

At a time when social networks have become the norm of communication, SailGrib and Weather4D join forces to create a true nautical network to serve their users, through voluntary sharing of their data, but it remains absolutely optional — while increasing overall security. An initiative that should be welcomed.

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(¹) Available in Weather4D all versions, coming soon to SailGrib.
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