Big data has taken the world by storm in recent years, as advancements in technology have made it easier to gather and process large amounts of information.
While big data can be used to make predictions about almost anything, one industry that could benefit greatly from this technology is the maritime industry.
In fact, it’s already starting to happen, with some companies even integrating big data into their business models to help them increase efficiency and streamline operations on their ships.
What is Big Data?
Big data is a term that describes the large volume of data – both structured and unstructured – that inundates a business on a day-to-day basis.
But it’s not just the amount of data that’s important. It’s what organizations do with the data that matters. Big data can be used to improve efficiency, optimize operations, and make better decisions.
In the martime industry, we are using big data to generate information about ship and crew safety and well-being, that build sustainable best practices that save costs and reduce maritime incidents.
Why Is it Important?
In an industry as vast and ever-changing as maritime, it’s more important than ever to have a clear understanding of what’s happening at all times.
That’s where big data comes in. By collecting and analyzing large amounts of data, maritime companies can make more informed decisions about everything from cargo logistics to future investments.
How Can We Use It?
In recent years, the maritime industry has been using big data to improve efficiency and safety.
For example, some ships now have sensors that can detect icebergs up to 160 kilometers away. By detecting these hazards early on, they can be avoided or navigated around with less risk.
Another area where big data is making an impact is cargo containers: by tracking their location and status at all times, shipping companies are able to better plan routes so that their containers are loaded on ships at times when there will be minimal congestion and delays.
But when it comes to safety, the maritime is nowhere close to its close cousin the aviation industry – and here is where Greenfield comes in filling this gap that has been prevalent for the longest time. Request for a free demo.
How Will Big Data Affect the Maritime Industry.
The maritime industry is no stranger to big data. In fact, the maritime industry has been using big data for years to track things like ship movements, weather patterns, and more. But what is big data? And how will it affect the maritime industry?
Big data is large sets of data that are so large they’re impossible to analyze using traditional database software. There are two types of big data: structured and unstructured.
Structured big data is organized data, like a spreadsheet or database. Unstructured big data, on the other hand, isn’t organized; it’s usually just raw information like emails or images from satellites.
Before technology like cloud computing came along, it was virtually impossible to process large amounts of big data without breaking your computer bank.
But now that technology has developed some ways for businesses to process large amounts of information quickly and easily, businesses around every industry can take advantage of big data processing techniques if they know how. Now let’s look at how this relates to the maritime industry.
For example, ships often use SONAR – Sound Navigation and Ranging – which collects sound waves underwater to help measure distance, direction, speed and even topography of an area.
Now imagine you wanted to see what these sonar readings looked like as they were collected over time… With this new type of big data storage technique called cloud computing, it would be easy!
You could store all those sonar readings into one file and then go back anytime you wanted to see them by pulling up the file on your computer or smartphone whenever you wanted!
It makes sense that with all this data available about ships’ paths through water, there should be some way for companies in the maritime industry to use it effectively.
Similarly, Greenfield is harnessing the power of big data by collecting information provided by operators, so that over a period of time, the information begins to form certain patterns, that allow shipping companies to predict outcomes even before they take place.
If you are interested in seeing the benefits of big data and how it can greatly impact your shipping company, get in touch with us for a free demo and trial version. No financial commitment upfront which allows you and your team to explore all the benefits Greenfield offers.
