Open for attendees at Arctic Frontiers 2026
Automatic Identification System (AIS) technology enables real-time monitoring of ship operations, supporting safe navigation and preventing illicit activities at sea. AIS also produces extensive datasets on traffic patterns, offering multiple potential applications. Researchers are increasingly combining AIS data with other sources to investigate the drivers and trends of Arctic shipping, as well as to assess its impacts and risks to marine ecosystems and maritime safety. Public agencies use AIS data for planning, including infrastructure development and emergency preparedness. This workshop will showcase examples of AIS-based services that have been developed, alongside scientific work aimed at understanding ship traffic and its impacts. It will explore how AIS-derived insights can inform decision-making and contribute to policy development, ending with a discussion on future applications.
Program:
- Introduction to the topic by Maaike Knol-Kauffman, NIVA
- Evolution of ASTD and its performance in analyzing a decade of Arctic shipping. By Gunnar Sander, NIVA.
- Use of ship-tracks in analyzing traffic in the Central Arctic Ocean. By Paul Dodd, NPI.
- The Norwegian Coastal Administration’s use of AIS in Barentswatch and other services. By Nina B. Vaaja, BarentsWatch.
- When Vessels Deceive AIS: Detecting Dark Targets. By Rob Ayasse, KSAT.
- Studies of conflicts between ships, sea birds, and marine mammals. By Arnaud Tarroux, NINA.
- Understanding black carbon emissions from Arctic shipping. By Sian Prior, Clean Arctic Alliance.
- Final discussion: Challenges and possibilities of AIS data for sustainable Arctic shipping governance. By Maaike Knol-Kauffman, NIVA.