The Domain Awareness Project is a forward-thinking, collaborative effort to leverage a new digital twin technology that enhances safety measures and operational efficiency at the Port of Halifax (HPA).
The OneHarbour platform utilized in the Project is unique as it provides exceptional situational awareness of Halifax Harbour, including real-time visualization of vessel locations and sea level object identification, through a three-sensor fusion of integrated AIS, radar, and machine vision. The lightweight platform doesn’t require specialized hardware and can operate from a tablet. It supports faster, data-informed decision-making by quickly identifying safety risks, scheduling conflicts, and operational delays in the marine environment.
Through the OneHarbour platform and a data-sharing agreement with the Canadian Coast Guard, the HPA can now identify, categorize and track all vessel types in Halifax Harbour, including those without active AIS. This insight, in addition to collecting data on wave height and weather, contributes to effective, cross-functional operational oversight of the Harbour and enhanced navigational safety for all commercial and recreational traffic.
Since its implementation, the OneHarbour platform helped the HPA to quickly identify a vessel operating in a restricted zone without authorization or proper documentation. As a result, the HPA Operations team were able to proactively intervene and prevent unsafe activity before it began. It further provided real-time visibility into crane operations, giving the HPA Operations team additional data to support vessel berth planning and allocation decisions.
The Marine Domain Awareness Project strengthens relationships among key port stakeholders — including marine, terminal, and safety partners. The project, led by Datifex and Transport Canada with support from Innovation Solutions Canada, is being developed, tested and deployed through the Halifax Port Authority and The PIER.