In the vast, open expanses of the sea, staying connected is becoming as crucial as having a reliable compass. As maritime and coastal communication systems evolve to support everything from shipping and offshore industries to autonomous vessels and the maritime Internet of Things (IoT), researchers are grappling with the unique challenges posed by the ocean environment. A recent review published in the IEEE Access journal, led by Imadeldin Elsayed Elmutasim from the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technology at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, sheds light on how factors like salinity, humidity, and evaporation ducts can significantly impact wireless communication over sea channels.
Unlike the relatively stable conditions on land, the maritime environment throws a curveball at radio waves. The high salinity of seawater, the ever-present humidity, and the phenomenon known as evaporation ducts—where temperature and humidity gradients create a duct that can trap and guide radio waves—all conspire to alter how signals propagate. “Traditional methods such as the Free-Space Path Loss (FSPL), Two-Ray Ground Reflection (2-RGR) model, and ITU-R recommendations provide useful baselines but fail to fully capture the combined effects of salinity, humidity, and refractivity structures,” Elmutasim explains. This means that the models we rely on for terrestrial communication don’t quite cut it when it comes to maritime scenarios.
So, what does this mean for the maritime industry? For starters, it highlights the need for more accurate propagation models tailored to the unique conditions of the sea. This could lead to better communication systems for shipping, offshore platforms, and naval operations, ensuring that signals remain strong and reliable even in the most challenging conditions. The review also points to the potential of evaporation ducts to extend communication ranges, which could be a game-changer for long-distance maritime communication.
Moreover, the study identifies several open research challenges that present opportunities for innovation. For instance, there’s a scarcity of large-scale maritime datasets, which could be a goldmine for researchers looking to develop more accurate models. There’s also a need for more validation at millimeter-wave and terahertz frequencies, opening up avenues for research and development in these areas. Elmutasim also highlights the potential of hybrid AI-physics models, which could combine the best of both worlds to create more robust propagation models.
For maritime professionals, this research underscores the importance of understanding and adapting to the unique challenges of the maritime environment. It also presents opportunities for collaboration with researchers and developers to create more reliable and efficient communication systems. As the maritime industry continues to evolve, so too must our understanding of how to communicate effectively over the vast expanses of the sea. With insights like those provided by Elmutasim and his team, published in the IEEE Access journal (which translates to “Access to Electrical and Electronics Engineers”), the future of maritime communication looks brighter than ever.