Small Satellites, Big Data: Uncovering the Invisible in Maritime Security

Summary

Even the biggest ships on the world’s vast oceans can be invisible, their identities, paths, and activities hidden. New technology is lifting the veil. Small satellites collect terabytes of global data daily, while advances in computational analytics now mine that data faster than any human can. Shedding new light on maritime activities affects policies on national and international security, safety, national and transnational economic interests, and environmental concerns.