Help & Information
Welcome to the AIS Anomaly Detector...
What is AIS?
Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a global tracking system used on ships and by vessel traffic services to monitor maritime traffic. It broadcasts key details about each vessel including:
Ship name
Unique ID (MMSI)
Position (latitude and longitude)
Speed and course
What Does This Tool Do?
This application monitors real-time AIS data and uses machine learning to detect potentially anomalous vessels. These anomalies could indicate erratic movement, unusual speed, or navigation that may pose cybersecurity or safety concerns.
How to Use It
Search: Enter a ship name or ID (MMSI) in the search bar to locate a specific vessel.
Anomaly Toggle: Use the toggle in the top right to filter and show only anomalous vessels.
Simulate: Click "Simulate Anomaly" to add a fake anomaly for testing.
Click on a vessel: to see detailed information including coordinates, speed, and if it's considered an anomaly.
What is vessel 999999999
Vessel 999999999 is the vessel used for testing the machine learning model
Since anomalies are not common, it is there to demonstrate the tool
Understanding Anomalies
Ships flagged as anomalous are visually marked in red. These anomalies are identified using a trained machine learning model that considers movement patterns and other behaviours that deviate from normal expectations.
Troubleshooting
No ships showing? Wait a few seconds - data loads in real time
Search not working? Make sure the ship is currently visible on the map and avoid searching generic terms like 'unknown'.
Who is this for?
Anyone! Whether you're a student, researcher or just curious about maritime activity, this tool is designed to be simple, educational and interactive.