Abstract
This paper describes on the consolidation of AIS and ARPA radar positions by comparing the AIS and ARPA radar information for the tracked ship targets using a PC-based ECDIS in Busan harbor, Korea. The information of AIS and ARPA radar target was acquired independently, and the tracking parameters such as ship's position, COG, SOG, gyro heading, rate of turn, CPA, TCPA, ship s name and MMSI etc. were displayed automatically on the chart of a PC-based ECDIS with radar overlay and ARPA tracking. The ARPA tracking information obtained from the observed radar images of the target ship was compared with the AIS information received from the same vessel to investigate the difference in the position and movement behavior between AIS and ARPA tracked target ships. For the ARPA radar and AIS targets to be consolidated, the differences in range, speed, course, bearing and distance between their targets were estimated to obtain a clear standards for the consolidation of ARPA radar and AIS targets. The average differences between their ranges, their speeds and their courses were 2.06% of the average range, -0.11 knots with the averaged SOG of 11.62 knots, and $0.02^{\circ}$ with the averaged COG of $37.2^{\circ}$, respectively. The average differences between their bearings and between their positions were $-1.29^{\circ}$ and 68.8m, respectively. From these results, we concluded that if the ROT, COG, SOG, and HDG informations are correct, the AIS system can be improved the prediction of a target ship's path and the OOW(Officer of Watch) s ability to anticipate a traffic situation more accurately.