Researchers of ASU Ready to Execute Global Monitoring for Regional Navigation

Victor Zanozin from the Department of Geology & Geography of Astrakhan State University has developed a project to research the water area of Astrakhan Region together with our students. Dwelling upon the potential of their ideas and outcomes of their R&D, people of ASU suggest establishment of a single center to analyze geodata at our University.

The young researchers’ development was presented at the Festival of Student Science, where it attracted attention of the University administration and reps of major companies of our city. The team of our Department of Geology & Geography became a laureate of the Festival for its project of an automatic identification system of vessels monitoring.

According to Victor, this development is of real practical value for Astrakhan Region; it has real prospects. The alumnus of our Chair of Geography, Cartography, GIS Technologies was involved in R&D activities already when a student. After his graduation with a cum laude diploma, he started covering a master program; then he joined a PhD course and became an Assistant of the Chair. He strongly believes that Geography ought to keep up to date. “We strive to make this science more prestigious. We wish everyone realized that Geography stepped aside from traditional techniques; it actively applies ICT and other most modern means to get information”, Victor remarks.

Victor also told us that it is possible to create a complete database reflecting the state of the Volga River Delta and movement of water transport along it already now; thanks to the automatic identification system, it will be possible to monitor vessels in the real-time mode.

There are similar developments now; most likely, large ports of Astrakhan apply them locally, but a single center operating at our University and a single database could provide complete information and monitor passenger and freight transactions throughout the entire region and even outside it. Besides, specialists of the future center are able to conduct research for owners of small vessels, provide a special monitoring, e.g. for the Astrakhan Nature Reserve, for regional ports, or for the Caspian Fisheries Research Institute. According to Victor Zanozin, “Private and public companies could contact our Center and receive the necessary information that is crucial for them. Already now we are able to analyze by applying satellite surveillance, determine exposure to flooding, the scale of the river flood, development of bioplankton, and even oil spills. If we get the necessary equipment, we will execute the bottom ultrasounding. It will help create a relief map, which is essential for owners of vessels in Astrakhan”.