Prefectura and CONAE advance in satellite surveillance with AI for maritime and border control

The Argentine Naval Prefecture (PNA) and the National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE) held a working meeting to deepen technological cooperation applied to security and national sovereignty. The meeting was led by CONAE’s Executive and Technical Director, engineer Josefina Péres, and the Prefecture’s Director of Information Technology and Communications, Prefect General José Antonio Impollino, along with their technical and operational teams.

What was evaluated and which systems are involved

During the session, the results of SIVEMAR (Integrated Electronic Sea Surveillance System), developed by the maritime authority, were evaluated. This tool incorporates into the Coast Guard System information obtained by the Argentine SAOCOM radar satellites and associated international constellations. According to the source, the system provides 24-hour coverage, even under adverse weather conditions or heavy cloud cover. This capability is used for control of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Mile 201 and the Argentine Continental Shelf.

Its functions also include the detection of non-cooperative vessels that interrupt their positioning systems, as well as the early identification of dark spots on the sea surface that could correspond to hydrocarbon spills.

Objectives with artificial intelligence

The delegations defined short- and medium-term objectives related to the incorporation of advanced artificial intelligence models. The purpose is to accelerate image processing and generate near-real-time alerts for Coast Guard vessels and Prefecture air assets. These tools will also be aimed at reducing false alarms and automating the classification of different types of vessels.

In addition, the deployment of satellite wind maps at sea is considered an input for navigation safety and search and rescue (SAR) operations, as well as for modeling the movement of potential environmental contingencies.

The SABIA-Mar mission and expansion to rivers and borders

Another point addressed was the future Argentine satellite mission SABIA-Mar. In that framework, it was agreed that the Argentine Naval Prefecture will join the mission’s strategic user community and will participate in the validation of the satellite sensors once they are placed in orbit. The force will use its operational deployment and control data obtained directly in the field for these tasks, with the aim of contrasting them with the information generated from space.

The cooperation also contemplates expanding surveillance through satellite technology to inland rivers and border areas. In this regard, pilot projects have begun that use satellite sensors and algorithms for detecting changes in terrain to identify clandestine airstrips related to drug trafficking and smuggling. In addition, monitoring is planned for unauthorized landings and precarious ports located along the Paraná-Paraguay Waterway (VNT) and the rivers of northern Argentina.

Practical impact: who is affected and since when

The direct impact falls on the operations of the Argentine Naval Prefecture at sea and on inland rivers. The incorporation of advanced artificial intelligence models and integration into the SABIA-Mar mission are objectives defined for the short and medium term, according to the source. The expansion of surveillance to inland rivers and border areas already has pilot projects underway, although no timelines or results are specified.

• Immediate effects: the evaluation of SIVEMAR and the definition of objectives to incorporate AI in satellite image processing.
• Conditioned effects: the integration of the Prefecture as a strategic user of SABIA-Mar and its participation in sensor validation once the satellites are placed in orbit.
• Still uncertain effects: the reduction of false alarms, the automation of vessel classification and the detection of clandestine airstrips, unauthorized landings and precarious ports, since no results of the pilot projects are reported.

Value module: data and limits of the source

The source consulted does not allow calculations of differences, percentages, averages or equivalences because it does not include numerical series, amounts, areas or comparable periods. Nor are exchange rates or conversion factors reported. Therefore, the original units mentioned are preserved: 24 hours of coverage, Exclusive Economic Zone, Mile 201 and Argentine Continental Shelf. No currencies or units are converted.

Document: journalistic article from La Derecha Diario. Organization and date: no exact date is provided in the material. Unit: not applicable. Values used: not applicable. Operation: not performed.

What data or decision should be followed

It is advisable to follow the fine print of the integration of the Argentine Naval Prefecture into the strategic user community of the SABIA-Mar mission and the validation of satellite sensors. It is also advisable to monitor whether results are published from the pilot projects for detecting changes in terrain to identify clandestine airstrips and precarious ports in the Paraná-Paraguay Waterway (VNT) and the rivers of northern Argentina.