MEDUSA

Your mission system for airborne maritime surveillance

For further information on the MEDUSA System you are welcome to contact us.

OPTIMARE Systems GmbH

Am Luneort 15a 27572 Bremerhaven Germany Tel. +49 471 48361-0 Fax +49 471 48361-11 info@optimare.de www.optimare.de

May 2013 Subject to technical changes and misprints

MEDUSA

Cockpit monitor

FMS

Advanced Data Acquisition and Processing for Airborne Maritime Surveillance

APPLICATION Airborne maritime surveillance Airborne oil spill monitoring EEZ protection Border patrol Fishery patrol Hydrographic monitoring FEATURES Mission planning Real-time display of sensor data Immediate post-overpass analysis Support of any remote sensor Classication of marine pollution Automated scene analysis Computer-aided report creation Geo-referencing and GIS capability In-ight and ground processing Display of electronic charts Redundant storage AIS support
The MEDUSA System allows robust acquisition, real-time display as well as immediate post-overight processing of remote sensing data. Post-overight processing includes automated image analysis, pollution classication and GIS export.

Mission Data base

MultiFunction Operator Console Central Mission Computer Network Switch NAV

Mission Display Unit

DVVR

Central Interface Unit

One of two German maritime surveillance aircraft of Do228 type. The aircraft carries OPTIMAREs MEDUSA system in stand-alone conguration.

Video signals

EO/IR

Sensor Processor

Sensor Processor

SATCOM Anti-pollution subsystem Direction Finder AIS

Search Radar Digital Video Camera Digital Still Camera

Sensor Processor

Sensor Processors

MEDUSA as a network of sensors

Spanish maritime surveillance aircraft of Casa CN-235 type equipped with OPTIMAREs MEDUSA system as a subsystem of the EADS FITS system (Photograph courtesy of AIRBUS MILITARY).

Sensor Processor

Sensor Processor

Overview
The optimum operation of an airborne maritime surveillance system is more demanding than ever requiring enhanced real-time data acquisition and software solutions. The MEDUSA System integrates multiple remote sensors and mission system components into one user-friendly, networkbased data acquisition and processing framework. The entire MEDUSA System roughly comprises the following structural components:

The MEDUSA System can incorporate any type of remote sensor, like for example electro-optical scanners, cameras, radar systems, infrared imagers, lidar systems, and imaging radiometers. Moreover, other mission system components like AIS, Direction Finder and communication systems are integrable as well. Each of the sensors integrated into the MEDUSA network is administrated by an individual sensor processor which (1) digitizes and stores the data on an internal buffer, (2) attaches time stamps to the data and (3) transfers the time-referenced data via ber optic network to the database of the central mission computer. The central mission computer stores the data and provides time information as well as display and operating interfaces. Sensor management, on-line visualization and data analysis is facilitated by graphical user interface (GUI). Due to redundant data storage on both the sensor processor and the database of the central mission computer a high reliability is achieved.

Sensor Processor

Sensor Processor

A typical MEDUSA network of sensors used for airborne maritime surveillance.

The MEDUSA Software Suite

The MEDUSA Software Suite is the software component of OPTIMAREs network-based data acquisition and processing system MEDUSA. It is used for sensor control as well as for real-time visualization and post-overpass processing of sensor data. The analysis part of the software can be used for both in-ight and ground processing of the data. Basic tools for analysis of remote sensing data are display of remotely sensed data colorbar adjustment tagging of geo markers distance measurements bearing measurements manual polygon drawing export to various le formats (e.g. GeoTIFF, ESRI Shapele and more)

MEDUSA network MEDUSA sensors MEDUSA Software Suite

MEDUSA can be either operated stand-alone or as a surveillance subsystem of an integrated mission system via a customizable interface.

The amount of available built-in features is generally customizable and desired additional features can be added according to the customers application.
The MEDUSA system supports various EO/IR systems.

MEDUSA screen showing the professional marine navigational chart system with AIS objects in conjunction with an enhanced AIS lter tool.

Depending on the respective MEDUSA conguration the software suite includes basic functionalities, but also advanced and more specialized capabilities like mission planning display of electronic charts classication of marine pollution based on laser uorosensor data measurement of oil thickness and volume based on microwave radiometer data computer-aided creation of pollution reports

The automated interpretation and fusion of multi-source pollution data solves a general difculty: the use of multisensor systems is often associated with the problem that the system operator is subject to work overload. This is certainly the case if multiple imaging sensors are operated at the same time by a single operator. The problem gets critical if operation is carried out by untrained personnel as the workload is composed of demanding tasks like sensor control, data interpretation and interactive analysis. OSSAS prevents the system operator from being overwhelmed by the incoming ow of multi-source information.

The three latter capabilities are typical of the oil spill monitoring conguration of MEDUSA.
Portuguese maritime surveillance aircraft of Casa C-295 type equipped with OPTIMAREs MEDUSA system as a subsystem of the EADS FITS system (Photograph courtesy of AIRBUS MILITARY). Side-looking Airborne Radar (SLAR) data displayed by the MEDUSA Software Suite (waterfall and mapping mode).

Mission system components

A mission system suite encompasses a customized set of sensors and auxiliary mission system components. This includes units for sensing, processing and communication. Mission system control as well as real-time visualization and post-processing of sensor data are performed by means of the MEDUSA Software Suite. The software is part of the central mission computer.
MEDUSA screen showing live Maritime Patrol Radar and EO/IR video.

The MEDUSA mission system features full integration of the SLAR 9000 Sensor from Terma A/S, Denmark. The acquired SLAR data are stored on a central mission data base and visualized in real time as a standard sliding display. Post-overpass analysis is made possible through the MEDUSA Software Suite. Moreover SLAR data are displayed as a map overlay in the mapping mode of a proprietary multi-layer GIS software also allowing for integration with satellite data.

Fusion of multi-sensor oil spill data by means of the Oil Spill Scene Analysis System (OSSAS).

A further special software tool is OPTIMAREs Oil Spill Scene Analysis System (OSSAS). OSSAS is a sub-component of the MEDUSA Software Suite in the complete maritime pollution surveillance conguration. As an advanced tool for automated analysis of oil spill data is it is capable of

extracting features from IR/UV oil spill imagery (like the area of the oil spill, its center of area, its principal direction, and specic size parameters) creating segment maps and associated polygons of the most important areas of an oil spill, i.e., the oilcovered area as well as the area of intermediate and large oil thickness merging multi-sensor oil spill data into a single composite thickness map; creating thematic maps of the oil spill scene

To aid navigation and to assess the tactical situation at sea an Electronic Navigational Chart System has been integrated into the MEDUSA Software Suite. Its basic features are: Display of different charts available for the regions of interest Marking the desired and real ight track in the chart display Insertion of user dened targets and way points into the chart Integration of customer specic maps All provisions for route and mission planning are installed. Mission planning includes insertion of waypoints creation and modication of ight plans import of satellite imagery, e.g. radar (SAR) satellite imagery of oil spills inclusion of existing tactical mission data, e.g., geomarkers, tracks, polygons import of ight plans from aircrafts Flight Management System via ARINC matching of ight plan with actual aircraft track

SLAR
The Side-Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR) is the basic sensor for wide-coverage surveillance of the sea surface. SLAR is a cloud-penetrating X-band radar technique of real aperture type which works according to the airborne line scanning principle. Due to the typical pulse emission characteristics of the radar pulses the SLAR offers outstanding imaging capabilities allowing a highly sensitive detection of surface targets, like e.g. vessels, people and oil spills. Moreover, the SLAR is the primary tool for wide-coverage oil spill detection and is thus a part of the anti-pollution subsystem of the mission system.

Side-Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR) antenna of the Netherlands Coast Guard maritime surveillance aircraft of Do228 type.

EO/IR
EO/IR devices are used for identication and documentation during day and night. The multi-channel EO/IR data can be displayed on monitors for operators and ight crew. The EO/IR system can be slaved to sensors like the Surveillance Radar or the Direction Finder. All data are recorded in the MEDUSA system.

The Side-looking Airborne Radar of SLAR 9000 type from TERMA A/S is fully integrated with the MEDUSA system.

Georeferenced data acquired by the OPTIMARE IR/UV Line Scanner.

A 360 free rotatable and gyro stabilized turret contains cameras delivering video data from the infrared and visible spectrum. The EO/IR system allows a precise search in narrow eld of view. The various functions of the FLIR like zoom, azimuth and elevation line of sight are either controlled by means of a system control unit or by slaving to another sensor.

Search Radar
The 360 Search Radar is a sensor for conducting missions like marine surveillance, shery patrol, border patrol, and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) protection. The Search Radar is fully integrated with the data management and tactical map display of MEDUSA.

Advanced Oil Spill Sensors

Besides line scanners of IR/UV and VIS type OPTIMARE offers the Microwave Radiometer (MWR) and the Laser Fluorosensor as two advanced sensors for oil spill detection. The Microwave Radiometer (MWR) is capable of detecting and mapping oil layers exceeding a thickness of 0.05 millimeters Furthermore this system is capable of measuring and mapping oil layer thickness in the range from 0.05 to 3 millimeters.
The MEDUSA system supports various types of digital still and video cameras.

EOIR images of a vessel. The search radar of RDR 1700B type from Telephonics is integrated with the MEDUSA system.

Ground Segment & Web-based GIS

The OPTIMARE Ground Segment is the ground-based central for post-processing, archiving and distribution of mission data. The ground segment is based on the same post processing software which is also installed on the airborne segment for in-ight post-processing of mission data. Additionally, the ground segment includes a redundant quick access archive system and a web-based geographical information system (GIS) service which allows the webbased protected access to mission data. Derived data products and raw data can be easily relayed by satellite communication (SATCOM) or direct data downlink to response vessels or shore-based situation centres. These data products can be further distributed along with satellite and in-situ data using the webbased GIS service which is a modern aspect in marine crisis management.

IR/UV Line Scanner

IR/UV line scanners have been established as standard tools for airborne mapping of oil spills. They are capable of mapping the total extent of the oil spill as well as areas of intermediate and large oil layer thickness. The OPTIMARE IR/UV Line Scanner is fully integrated with the MEDUSA mission system.

AIS
The MEDUSA mission system supports full integration of the Automatic Identication System (AIS) maritime broadcast technique. AIS provides real-time information (geo-position, identity and others) on vessels in the survey area.

The OPTIMARE Microwave Radiometer is a three frequency line scanning microwave imager for detection of very thick oil spill areas and as such a unique system.

The Laser Fluorosensor (LFS) is an airborne uorescence lidar for airborne detection and remote classication of crude oils, petroleum products and specic chemicals spilled at sea. The LFS by OPTIMARE is fully integrated with the MEDUSA mission system.

OPTIMARE IR/UV Line Scanner. MEDUSA features support of e.g. the Saab TransponderTech R4A AIS system.

VIS Line Scanner

VIS line scanners are auxiliary tools for various airborne remote sensing applications. In maritime surveillance the system is used for acquisition of highly resolved georeferenced Red/Green/Blue composite images. The OPTIMARE VIS Line Scanner is optimized to interface to the MEDUSA system.

Maritime VHF Radio & SATCOM

For communication with shore bases and ships as well as for relay of data and reports the MEDUSA mission system includes support of different broadcast techniques, like maritime radio or SATCOM communication link.

The OPTIMARE Laser Fluorosensor is a unique system for operational remote classication of marine pollution.

Camera Systems Search & Rescue Direction Finder

The Direction Finder (DF) system provides bearing information on radio transmitters and allows analysis of the COSPAS/SARSAT emergency information. Bearing information can be displayed to the ight crew and via the MEDUSA system also to the operators. Bearing information can also be used to enslave the EO system. The MEDUSA mission system supports various types of still and video cameras. Image and video data are automatically geo- and time-referenced and stored together with other types of mission metadata in the recording system.

User interface of the web-based GIS service.

OPTIMARE VIS Line Scanner.