ShipEcho -- An Interactive Tool for Global Mapping of Underwater Radiated Noise from Vessels

2026-05-05

AI Summary

This study addresses the challenge of large-scale mapping of underwater radiated noise from vessels (V-URN), which poses a threat to marine ecosystems but is hindered by sparse acoustic data and the high cost of ship activity information. To overcome these limitations, this work proposes ShipEcho—an open-source, web-based platform that delivers near-real-time global V-URN visualizations. ShipEcho uniquely integrates community-shared AIS trajectories, empirical source-level models, and a bathymetry-informed sound propagation model to generate maps of third-octave band sound pressure levels at 63 Hz and 125 Hz, as well as broadband levels across 20–2000 Hz and corresponding sound exposure levels. Validated against in situ measurements, the system demonstrates reasonable accuracy and offers significant utility for environmental assessment, policy development, and noise mitigation planning, circumventing traditional reliance on proprietary workflows and costly datasets.

Abstract

Underwater radiated noise from vessels (V-URN) is a recognized environmental stressor that negatively impacts marine ecosystems. Significant resources are invested in the development of V-URN monitoring indicators, regulatory frameworks, and management-oriented assessments. One approach with high potential for impact is V-URN mapping, which can provide actionable spatiotemporal information for environmental assessment and mitigation planning. Producing management-scale maps remains challenging as passive acoustic measurements are spatially sparse and many operational systems depend on specialist workflows and costly access to wide-area vessel activity data. To address these constraints, we introduce ShipEcho, a freely accessible web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) that provides near-real-time V-URN mapping using vessel data acquired through a community-based AIS exchange. Using established vessel SL models and propagation modeling informed by bathymetric data, ShipEcho produces near-real-time and cumulative noise maps across regions worldwide. These include sound pressure levels and sound exposure levels using standard indicators, including the 63~Hz and 125~Hz one-third octave bands and a 20--2000~Hz broadband level. We describe the system architecture, data pipeline, modeling workflow, and key assumptions, and evaluate map accuracy through comparison with acoustic recordings. We then demonstrate how ShipEcho can support management-level assessment, decision-making, and policy initiatives through practical use cases.

Problem

• underwater radiated noise
• vessel noise mapping
• marine environmental impact
• acoustic monitoring
• spatiotemporal assessment

Innovation

• underwater radiated noise
• AIS data
• real-time noise mapping
• acoustic propagation modeling
• marine environmental assessment