Decision Support for Intelligent Damage Estimation and Control
Collisions, grounding, explosions, or attacks are part of maritime operational risk and are particularly critical for warships and crew safety. Late detection of flooding following such events remains a challenge to situational awareness, and in high-stress conditions it can reduce available time for action and mitigation. The D-SIDE project will address this challenge by developing a real-time flooding detection and decision support system, integrating sensor networks, AI-driven analytics, and human factors to assess damage, predict ship safety, and recommend actionable countermeasures to support faster detection and response, ultimately improving survivability at sea.
What is the intended outcome?
A pilot development of an Emergency Decision Support System integrating sensor networks, machine learning algorithms, and human factors to detect damage and support crew decision-making by recommending countermeasures during flooding scenarios.
What is the approach?
The project consists of three sub-studies, the results of which will be integrated into a joint workbench, which will ultimately develop into a prototype of an on-board emergency advisory system:
- Research into the behaviour of steel that has already been weakened by the energy of the emergency itself. Carried out by TU Delft.
- Research into scenarios involving the damaged vessel, the assistance that sensors and AI algorithms can provide for effective situational awareness, and the development of the workbench. Carried out by (the maritime research group at) NHL Stenden.
- Research into human behaviour during such emergencies, the interaction between the D-SIDE tools and humans, and the best way to train people to use these tools. Carried out by Eindhoven University of Technology.
Project team
The project is an initiative funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence and is being carried out in collaboration with key stakeholders from the Dutch maritime industry and research institutions.
- Netherlands Ministry of Defence
- NHL Stenden (Herbert Koelman and Ieza Ramos)
- Delft University of Technology
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- DAMEN Naval
- Marin
- TNO
NHL Stenden’s task is partly fulfilled through a Professional Doctorate programme: A PD candidate learns to innovate within a complex professional context. The Professional Doctorate facilitates a continuous learning pathway from associate degree and bachelor’s through to master’s and doctorate levels within a professional discipline. The PD is also closely linked to other higher professional education programmes. As a result, higher professional education bachelor’s and master’s students also benefit in their studies from the research conducted by PD candidates into the latest developments in professional practice.
