**2.2 Algorithm introduction**

382 Remote Sensing – Applications

is presented. This work is a part of our project—Vision Enhancement System for Maritime Search and Rescue. The main task for the RS-MSR is to acquire general information in a wider scale. The distress ship is detected and located for guiding the search operation. Surrounding ships are also distinguished to coordinate the MSR operation. Some important data such as current and sea state are retrieved to help decision-making of the operation. Section 2 proposes the outline of the remote sensing methods for maritime search and rescue; Guided by the systematic functions and structures of the RS-MSR described in Section 2, Section 3 introduces the related algorithms used in RS-MSR. Section 4 describes the architecture of the remote sensing aided system for maritime search and rescue. The experiment design and the implementation performance are given in Section 5. Finally, Section 6 concludes the paper.

The primary role of the remote sensing is to provide a secondary source of information for the MSR operations. A remote sensing monitoring system can, to some extent, overcome the shortcomings and inadequacies of human eyes. It can also improve the searching speed and accuracy, and is of significance in promoting rescue success rate and efficiency. It can aid the rescuers to fulfill the task of search and rescue, especially for small targets, such as persons in

According to the requirement of search and rescue, a Remote Sensing Monitoring System for Maritime Search and Rescue (RS-MSR) is designed. Table 1 illustrates the main functions of

3) Ship size estimation

2. Performance analysis - Recognition rate


3. Rescue position prediction - Time prediction


2) Ship type identification/classification





4) Ship heading/direction estimation

distress and life boats, and could provide a good detection and identification result.

**RS-MSR System demand Function** 

Sea state analysis Wave direction and estimation Integrated processing 1. Non-remote sensing data fusion

Satellite transit inquiry Satellite transit inquiry Ship detection 1) Ship position detection

Table 1. The main functions of a RS-MSR system required

**2.1 Introduction to the system functions** 

**2. Outline** 

a RS-MSR system.

According to the requirement of the maritime search and rescue, the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imageries are used for this purpose. The algorithms concerned with the system demand are introduced as follows.
