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

TL;DR

ShipEcho is a web-based GIS tool that provides near-real-time global mapping of underwater vessel noise using AIS data, aiding environmental assessment and policy decisions.

Contribution

This paper introduces ShipEcho, a novel, accessible system for real-time underwater noise mapping that integrates vessel data, propagation modeling, and bathymetric information.

Findings

ShipEcho produces accurate noise maps compared to acoustic recordings.

The system supports management and policy decision-making.

ShipEcho operates in near-real-time across global regions.

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.