Locating a Container Within a Ship

[jwhipple@swri.org]

I am a researcher at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. Lately I have been looking at doing statistical analyses on the sensors available in smartphones. What we're trying to do is detect where, within a vehicle, the smartphone is located. This allows us to do things like disabling texting for the driver but lets passengers use their phones at will.

I was brainstorming ideas and thought about the possibility of locating a container within a ship. I know there's something called a "stowage plan" but I wanted to throw the idea out there anyway and get the forum's input. Do you think something like this would be useful?

Thanks,
John Whipple

[cappy208]

As far as containers go, the chiefmate figures out the stowage plan prior to loading before the ship even gets to the dock. So they know contents, and order of loading, as well as order of discharge. Pondering this, I don't see the usefulness. They don't just haphazardly load the containers, wondering where the specific boxes are that need to be loaded or discharged at each port. It is quite a involved plan, considering these ships may have 4-8 port visits, and they DEFINITELY don't (can't afford) handling containers more than twice. Once on. Once off.

As far as autos go. With the cellphone towers being 'hopping' all the time, how could you accurately know among say three different carriers who is where with that accuracy in one moving car? Especially at high speed?

[Steamer]

This allows us to do things like disabling texting for the driver but lets passengers use their phones at will.

I was brainstorming ideas and thought about the possibility of locating a container within a ship. I know there's something called a "stowage plan" but I wanted to throw the idea out there anyway and get the forum's input. Do you think something like this would be useful?

Stowage plans are normally worked out by the carrier or terminal. Unless the ship is a very small feeder the mate only gets the plan for his records, he doesn't develop it. There is precious little time to even look at the plans much less create one as there are so many elements involved such as shipper's requirements for above or below deck stowage, hazardous material location and segregation, loading port, discharge port, etc.

As far as figuring out which person in a vehicle is using the cell phone, until GPS accuracy gets a lot better, that is a dream. Maybe firmware in a phone that can triangulate the position of one phone relative to another then have a "master" phone tell a server where the "slaves" are in relation could work. But if there were two phones onboard and the driver held his phone near the passenger who was not using his phone, might it not look to the snoop system like the passenger was using the driver's phone and not block it?

Maybe you could develop a system where the car turns off the data feature of a phone registered to that vehicle when the engine is running and the wheels are turning?

[jwhipple@swri.org]

Thanks for your feedback. I know precious little about the shipping industry so your expertise is greatly appreciated!

We've actually made significant progress on determining where in the car a phone might be. We do not rely on GPS, wireless signals or any other external infrastructure. Instead we use the sensors in the phone such as the accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer (compass).

But if there were two phones onboard and the driver held his phone near the passenger who was not using his phone, might it not look to the snoop system like the passenger was using the driver's phone and not block it?

Yes, this is one difficultly we've run into. In fact this problem is what made me think of containers. If there is no human in the equation the problem becomes much easier. Are there any sensors attached to the containers?

Locating a container within a ship is just one example of how these sensors could be used. Maybe if the containers are stacked very high the sensors could be used to detect how much the containers sway back and forth. Another example would be calculating the turn radius of the ship. Again, this is all without GPS or the need to install special equipment on the ship. I'm interested in using sensors that are already in place.

[Steamer]

Re the containers, it sounds like a solution looking for a problem. If I want to know where a box is located I just look it up on the mate's computer.

As far as rate of turn and a lot more, do a literature search for Reinking and Harting, University of Oldenburg, Wilhemshaven.

ECDIS already provides most of the ship dynamics information anyone needs. Sometimes more than the bridge team can process.

[CaptAndrew]

I'm interested in using sensors that are already in place.

I once heard talk about using RFID tags but that is nothing to do with location. Just an instant ID and maybe inventory of contents. Don't now if it was ever tried. Maybe you could do something with it with a good scanner.

[jwhipple@swri.org]

Sometimes more than the bridge team can process.

Can you give me an example of the ECDIS providing too much information?

[Steamer]

Can you give me an example ...?

I am an engineer, so specific cases and anecdotal information might best be provided by one of the Sons of Magellan who frequent this site.

I can say that having taken the week long ECDIS course using a state of the art bridge simulator, the number of layers of information available can be overwhelming. That observation is made from the point of view of a former airline captain who understands full well the concept of information overload and data saturation in a dynamic environment.

If you Google "ECDIS information overload" I believe you will find volumes of information, enough to overload you even 8-)

In any event, welcome, it is good to see that researchers with an unbiased view (hopefully) are taking an interest in such things.

[NAUTICART]

I once heard talk about using RFID tags but that is nothing to do with location. Just an instant ID and maybe inventory of contents. Don't now if it was ever tried. Maybe you could do something with it with a good scanner.

Some of the containers are equipped with transmitters so customers with more expensive cargo can track their shipment worldwide... Try inquiring about Dockworks and TideWorks Technology with Ports America - Houston

Maybe you can drive over there for a day and see first hand, and do some more "googling" (research) before you go. There is plenty on the web about it, and you will have better questions and/or relations If you get get the chance to tour a facility.

Here is another link regarding.