On navigational situation evaluation under ambiguity and partial evidence

The paper depicts new approach involving navigational situation assessment. Nowadays operator at maritime traffic monitoring station have access to a great amount of various quality data. Information come from different sources and the data are generated by multiple of sensors. Multiple sources of data create new challenge regarding data association. The challenge is met by technology called data fusion. By means of fusion, different sources of information are combined to arrive at proper decision. Ships safety factors were introduced to enable vessels' classification regarding potential consequences of an accident. It is assumed that safety factors are fuzzy, imprecise values. Small ranges of value were assigned to small craft without dangerous cargo. The largest intervals are reserved for huge crude carriers. Fuzzy factors (SF) depend on subjective evaluation of ships tonnage and on amount as well as harmfulness of their cargo. Extended scope of the SFs is introduced and reasoning on subjective classification discussed. Included numerical example illustrates presented material.