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This paper introduces the current and new satellite solutions for local and global tracking of ships for enhanced Ship Traffic Control (STC) and Ship Traffic Management (STM) at sea, in sea passages, in approaching to the anchorages, and inside of seaports. All transportation systems and especially those for maritime applications require far more sophisticated technology solutions and equipment for modern satellite ship tracking than current stand-alone US GPS or Russian GLONAS positioning systems. The existing and forthcoming Global Ship Tracking (GST), Satellite Data Link (SDL), and Local Ship Tracking (LST) systems with Space and Ground Segment infrastructures for all three systems are discussed including benefits of these new technologies and solution for improved STC.

This paper provides an historical review of maritime mobile radio communications systems as a primary means of ensuring the safety and security of ships at sea. Safety at sea has always been a priority for seamen and shippers. Distress alerts at sea caused by the blind forces of Mother Nature or, more commonly, by human factors have occurred over many centuries, as seafarers often set sail with inadequate information about their course, navigation and weather conditions. Until the late nineteenth century, only audio and visual transfers of information from point to point were used. From then on, however, new methods, such as news and information via wire and then by radio communications systems, were introduced. So long as safety standards are met, it is also important to test innovations and technology transfer to develop devices that are more reliable than mobile radio communications.

Ground communication segment explains fixed and mobile satellite communication Ground Earth Stations with antenna systems and transmission equipment configurations for broadcasting and broadcasting via Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO and non-GEO mobile networks). Here main components of the Ground Earth Station communication receivers and transmitters are also presented, and in particular are included Inmarsat GEO, Iridium Low Earth Orbit (OLEO), and Digital Video Broadcasting-Return Channel over Satellite (DVB-RCS) networks and Ground Earth Stations (GES). In addition, this chapter introduces ground GNSS (GPS and GLONASS), Cospas-Sarsat, and VHF and HF radio communication systems and networks. Finally, in this chapter users of radio and satellite CNS systems, equipment, and networks are described.

Airborne Satellite CNS Systems and Networks introduce Inmarsat and Iridium global mobile satellite networks, space segments with four generations of satellite constellations, and ground segment and networks with ground Earth stations and associated coordination and control networks, types of Aircraft Earth Station (AES) terminals with antenna systems, and Global Aircraft Tracking (GAT) systems. In addition, this chapter explains Cospas-Sarsat Satellite Distress and Safety System (SDSS) with its LEOSAR, MEOSAR, and GEOSAR space, ground, and user segments of airborne Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT), Mission Control Centres (MCC), and Rescue Coordination Centres (RCC). At the end, Global Broadcasting Satellite System (GBSS) and Stratospheric Platform Systems (SPS) networks, systems, and applications are included.

Space communication segment discusses the fundamental principles of the space platforms and orbital parameters, laws of satellite motions, spacecraft configuration and orbits, payload structure, type of onboard antenna systems, and components of satellite bus, all in the function of new GADSS network and applications. In addition, an essential knowledge of analog and digital modulation, coding, and types of multiple access techniques is introduced here. This chapter also comprises particulars about propagation effects and interface consideration significant for radio and satellite transmission in the function of the future GADSS network.

Airborne radio CNS systems and networks present in general VHF radio communication, VHF transceivers, and radio equipment with all types of VHF data links (VDL), radio automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (RADS-B), and other VHF radio systems, equipment, and VHF ground radio stations (GRS). In this chapter HF radio systems and transceiver and HF data link (HDL), selective calling (SELCAL) transmission systems, automatic identification system (AIS), and radio search and rescue transponder (SART) are also included.

Integrations into the GADSS network include future GADSS network, radiocommunication systems, L-band digital aeronautical communication system (LDACS), integrated aeronautical communication systems, mobile satellite communication systems, Cospas-Sarsat satellite systems, global aircraft tracking (GAT), Future Air Navigation System (FANS), and future GADSS network.

In this chapter is introduced the integration of satellite meteorological observation system with little satellite systems, Stratospheric Platform Systems (SPS) or high-altitude platforms (HAP), in particular unmanned airship and aircraft stations, Satellite Synthetic Aperture Radars (SSAR) and GNSS systems. Thus, all these systems have additional potential to be deployed and after integrated with current meteorological satellite networks.

This chapter provides meteorologists with an overview of remote sensing technologies and their general application as a special science of gathering information from a location that is distant from the data source. Thus, characteristics of both aerial and satellite remote sensing techniques are the common platforms that can play a very important role in data and image detection for meteorological observation and weather gathering. Image analysis is the science of interpreting specific criteria from a remotely sensed image. An individual may visually, or with the assistance of computer enhancement, extract information from an image, whether it is furnished in the form of an aerial photograph, a multispectral satellite scene, a radar image, a base of lidar data, or a thermal scan.

This chapter is presenting different techniques and modes of satellite image interpretation, type of satellite imagery, spectral imaging properties, enhancement of imaging technique, geolocation and calibration, atmospheric and surface phenomena, and other features.

This chapter recalls the reasons why ground segment with all kind of surface stations for meteorology, weather prediction, and climatology is so important to the global weather (WX) satellite meteorological and climatology systems, including economy and the contribution of regional and global meteorological satellite systems in future developments and upgrading those disciplines.

This chapter is presenting information about all satellite meteorological applications provided by the meteorological, remote, and Earth observation satellite systems. Timely warning of impending natural and environmental disasters, accurate climate prediction, and detailed understanding of the status of global water resource are all critically important everyday issues for the global community. Thus, the National Meteorological Services (NMS) in any country around the world are responsible for providing this information, which is required for the protection of the environment, economic development, and the safety of life and property. In this chapter will be introduced the following satellite meteorological applications important for economic development, such as atmosphere and surface; ocean and coasts; transport (maritime and fishery, road, railways, and aeronautical); agriculture, forestry, and vegetation; hydrology, water, and flood disaster management; mapping and GIS; cryosphere, etc.

This chapter introduces global meteorological satellite networks for weather observation and imaging. As stated in Volume 1 of this book, satellites are objects that orbit larger object, such as planets or moons. The Earth’s Moon is an example of a natural satellite, and Earth itself is natural satellite of Sun. Thus, communication, navigation, weather, and other artificial satellites are the result of human ingenuity. There are two main types of weather satellites, defined by their orbital characteristics: Polar Earth Orbit (PEO) and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO). Most satellite weather images seen on the local television news or the weather TV channels are produced by GEO satellites. The GEO satellites orbit the Earth above the equator at the same speed as the Earth rotates around its axis, so they are able to transmit a continuous meteorological picture of the region below their footprint. However, the PEO meteorological satellites are orbiting in the significantly lower and shorter, taking about 100 min to travel from pole to pole and produce high-resolution snapshots of the Earth.

This chapter introduces the importance of ground station in satellite meteorology, weather prediction, and climatology for enhancement of the Global Observation System (GOS) as a coordinated system of modern methods and facilities operationally reliable surface-based and space-based subsystems.

The Global Mobile Satellite Distress System (GMSDS) is a new proposal by author of this book, which has to be developed providing seamen and airmen communities with global satellite communications and locating networks. In fact, both satellite networks have to be integrated under an GMSDS umbrella with elements capable of being operated by and an individual onboard ships and aircraft with minimum communication knowledge, even they are crew staff, and yet enable alerting with Search and Rescue (SAR) services to be reliably coordinated. This system will integrate satellite subsystems of Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) already developed by IMO and Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety Systems (GDASS) proposed and developed by author of this book in 2000, long ago the similar system was proposed by ICAO on May 2, 2016.

New developed Stratospheric Platform Systems (SPSs) known as High-Altitude Platforms (HAP) or Stratospheric Communication Platforms (SCP) are the modern space technique with top technologies for fixed and mobile applications, including military solutions. The stratospheric platform systems are using unmanned or manned on solar or fuel energy aircraft and unmanned on solar power airships only, both also they are carrying payloads onboard with transponders, antenna systems, and TT&C equipment. With a few very cheap remote-controlled and solar-powered airships as a better solution, a territory can be covered of some region or country including urban, suburban rural and remote areas, farms, forests, and other environments with a low density of population. There are four general telecommunications architectures, which can be used to deliver broadband wireless local loop service to consumers. Two of these architectures are space-based GEO and non-GEO satellite systems, and the other two are terrestrial rooftop cellular-like millimeter wave repeaters and stratospheric relay platforms.

The Broadcast Satellite System (BSS) applications are represented by old one-way Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) for transmitting only Speech and Video signals and modern two-way DVB-Return Channel via Satellite (DVB-RCS) for transmitting Voice, Data and Video over IP (VDVoIP) and IP over Satellite (IPoS). The DVB systems that have been defined by the recent project represent a family of baseline specifications, which match the characteristics of the delivery medium for the reason each system has been produced. At this point, the various DVB systems have to satisfy the different technical, operational, and commercial requirements of the particular transmission network and application, such as satellite, cable, personal, and terrestrial for which they have been designed, while keeping a high level of commonality and interoperability between them and their services.

Non-GEO GMSC infrastructures are space solutions for Global Mobile Personal Satellite Communications (GMPSC), such as LEO, MEO, and current regional systems.

Vessels sink or become disabled, airplanes crash in disasters, land vehicles and expeditions get lost in the wilderness and other causal emergencies occur that jeopardize many lives and property at sea, in the vast inland regions and air space of the entire world.

Inmarsat was established in 1979 as the International Maritime Satellite Organization (Inmarsat), a not-for-profit international organization, set up at the behest of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and United Nations (UN), for the purpose of establishing a maritime satellite communication network for ship management and Safety applications.

The current communication systems for aeronautical application are combined by radio (HF and VHF) and satellite communications, while the current navigation applications are represented by old fundamental systems for position, velocity, and time (PVT) military determination systems such as GPS and GLONASS of the US or Russia (former-USSR) requirements, respectively.

In the beginning of radio development, radio communication systems were conceived for the transmission and receiving of telegraphy and telephony signals via antenna systems. The consideration of antenna transmission is inevitable where their propagation characteristics are much affected by different and changeable local environments during movement of mobile and differ greatly from those observed in fixed satellite systems. To create antenna hardware for mobile and fixed systems, engineers have to consider all related factors in order to realize full mechanical and transmission potentials.

In this chapter are introduced satellite meteorological instruments for installation onboard Polar Earth Orbit (PEO) and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites. In addition, it will include other satellite instruments, radiation and broadband instruments. Thus, research and technology innovation on design, implementing and exploiting new satellite meteorological instruments that will provide unprecedented details of the weather at different levels of the atmosphere is making good progress.

This chapter is introducing the practical and theoretical fundamentals of Earth atmospheric electromagnetic (EM) radiation as an integration sequence of satellite meteorological and weather observation. Some radiation of the EM spectrum is absorbed by the atmosphere, but some is passing through the atmosphere and reaches the Earth’s surface, such as visible light, infrared, ultraviolet and microwave radiations. At this point, EM radiation is energy that is propagated through free space or through a material medium like atmosphere in the form of EM waves.

Satellite meteorological parameters help to provide the initial conditions for Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP). Desired fields include those of temperature, moisture, winds, clouds, fog, aerosols, precipitation, surface properties, heating and other parameters. Thus, for high horizontal resolution and global coverage, weather satellite data are an unrivaled source of NWP information. The basic form of this information is satellite sensor-incident, wavelength-dependent radiance or equivalently and brightness temperature. The process of retrieving meteorological data from the observed radiances involves solving an inverse problem, which often is ill posed or poorly conditioned. In fact, a variety of methods have been used to make the inverse problem more tractable, such as in essence, for which some a priori information is required. The inverse problem in meteorology is the opposite of the calculation of radiances, given the relevant meteorological profiles, surface conditions and sensor geometry. This so-called forward problem is an integral part of physical retrieval methods that are now generally favored over conventional statistical retrieval methods.

Propagation and interference characteristics are very important for providing quality and reliability of MSC propagation channels.

In the beginning of radio development, mobile communication systems were conceived for the transmission and receiving of telegraphy and telephony signals via antenna from ships, cars, trains, and aircraft. The consideration of antenna transmission is inevitable, especially in Global Mobile Satellite Communications (GMSC) applications, where their propagation characteristics are much affected by different and changeable local environments during movement of mobile and differ greatly from those observed in fixed satellite systems.