The safety and security of the vessels, coastal regions, harbors, and offshore installations are best protected by maritime surveillance systems. This surveillance is effective only if there are adept radar systems in place. Radars help in keeping a close watch on offshore activities, detecting and tracking vessels, supervising and monitoring sea activities, and also looking out for any potential threats. Placing or employing radar systems on floating platforms as part of the surveillance system has actually brought in the option of much more comprehensive protection by maximizing the visibility area for maritime surveillance. Here in the blog, we are going to discuss and elaborate further on the key features of radar surveillance and how it is improving itself to be part of emerging security requirements.

Let Us First Understand The Role Of Radar Systems In Maritime Security And Surveillance:

Radar is an acronym for radio detection and ranging services. In this system, the electromagnetic waves are set out and the echoes are analyzed to determine the presence of an object, its distance or range, its bearing, the material composition of the object, and so on. This makes it easier and more feasible for shipping vessels and other maritime vehicles to stride through the water, preventing any chances of collisions, preventing the interference of pirates and other smuggling activities, and helping safeguard maritime borders.

The advantages of adapting floating platforms to maritime surveillance systems are many. The first benefit is that floating platforms can be positioned strategically, which can give better visibility into maritime areas. Previously, radar systems were usually placed on land, and now floating platforms bring the possibility of better detection capabilities and minimizing the radar horizon. Floating platforms easily induce relocation and help enhance emerging threats. The floating platforms can also assist with power sources, data processing units, and communications systems, reducing dependency on shore-based infrastructure.

Features of Radar Systems on Floating Platforms in Maritime Surveillance

The radar systems on floating platforms help meet the unique needs of maritime surveillance. Let us take a look at the different features of radar systems on floating platforms:

• Long-range detection: The radar systems on the floating platforms provide an extended range of detection. A higher range of detection comes from high-frequency antennas and advanced signal processing techniques. It also comes with narrow beams and complicated algorithms. Such setups can help point vessels at a long distance, enable proactive response, and enable early warning.
• Multiple-target tracking: The sophisticated algorithm in place with floating platforms with radar systems can easily spot multiple targets at the same time. They are able to even track the slightest of movements, including those of small boats, help detect their exact location, and help look into security breaches over the maritime route.
• Weather resistance: The radar systems on floating platforms are built to sustain harsh winds, rough and violent seas, and heavy rain. The detection system is put under the protection of weatherproof enclosures and helps provide reliable data collection.

Also Read: How Radar Systems Help Offshore Platforms

Emerging New Trends and Technologies in Radar Detection Systems on Floating Platforms

Synthetic Aperture Radar: It can be employed to generate high-resolution images of the earth’s surface even during extreme weather conditions. These SAR systems on floating platforms have higher capabilities for vessel identification, oil spill detection, and iceberg monitoring.

Cognitive Radar: The radar uses the foundational knowledge of machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence to understand environmental conditions and user-defined objectives. It is also equipped to look into parameters like signal processing algorithms, waveforms, and antenna steering to mitigate multiple forms of interference.

Digital Beamforming: Through digital beamforming, electricity can be used to steer and control the radar beams. This can actually help scan the radar environment, point instantaneously at the moving targets, and also help get more accurate information about the situation of the entire maritime movement.

Networked Radar System: This simply means that multiple floating platforms come together to form a networked radar system. It helps improve the visibility extent of the radar system, reduces blindspots, and enhances the quality of the resilience system.