Implementation of African Satellite Augmentation System (ASAS) for Maritime Applications

This paper introduces implementation of the new project known as African Satellite Augmentation System (ASAS) for Africa and Middle East, designed by the CNS Systems Company and its research group supported by partners. The ASAS project as Regional Satellite Augmentation Systems (RSAS) will provide service for maritime, land (road and rail), and aeronautical applications. Thus, with existing and other newly designed RSAS networks, it will be integrated in Global Satellite Augmentation System (GSAS) with new Satellite Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) for improved Ship Traffic Control (STC) and Ship Traffic Management (STM). This System also enhances safety and emergency systems, transport security and control of ocean shipping freight, logistics and the security of the crew and passengers onboard ships and fishing vessels as well. The current CNS infrastructures of the first generation of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS-1) applications are represented by old fundamental solutions for Position, Velocity, and Time (PVT) of the satellite navigation and determination systems, such as the US GPS and Russian (former USSR) GLONASS military requirements, respectively. The establishment of Space, Ground, and User segment, including Local Satellite Augmentation System (LSAS), are discussed as a new basic infrastructures for maritime and other mobile applications, which will be integrated with RSAS in the future GSAS network.