# Sensing in Inland Waters to Promote Safe Navigation: A Case Study in the Aveiro's Lagoon
## 4 Survey and in-Context Interviews
### End-User Validation of the Meteo-Oceanographic Data-Sharing Concept: Survey and Interview Results
Upon a closer examination of the data, it is evident that most participants believe that accessing data is crucial, since eleven participants considered it important and an additional four rated it as very important (n = 15). Similarly, when it comes to sharing data, twelve participants highlighted its importance, while three deemed it very important (n = 15). The willingness of participants to engage in data sharing reflects a collective understanding of the importance of collaboration and information exchange in ensuring maritime safety and navigation. These findings underscore the critical role that real-time data access and sharing play in enhancing operational safety and decision-making efficiency in maritime settings, where conditions can fluctuate rapidly. Additionally, the identification of key data parameters for sharing highlighted the specific needs and priorities of maritime stakeholders. Participants highlighted the importance of specific data points, such as wind direction, speed, vessel position, and depth soundings, for the safe navigation of coastal and inland waters. Figure 14: Different opinions about access and sharing meteoceanographic data within an online community. Figure 13: Most used maritime electronic instruments installed on participants’ boats. In coastal waters (Figure 15), the most important data to communicate with the data sharing system mentioned were wind direction (eleven considered to be important and four that considered very important-n = 15), wind speed (twelve considered to be important and three considered very important-n = 15), and vessel position (n = 15). Following closely were the depth sounder (n = 12), course (n = 11), and current. To conclude, inland waters (Figure 16) depth sounder (n = 18), wind direction (n = 14), vessel position (n = 14), and wind speed (n = 13) are the most essential data to share and access. It is important to emphasize that all these data are integrated into the data sharing system proposed in this article and can be shared between sailors. The concept of sharing data is central to this study since it involves a network of vessels exchanging important information, such as weather updates, navigational insights, safety protocols, and real-time observations. Sailors are empowered to collectively improve the maritime experience by fostering a culture of openness and collaboration. The potential benefits extend beyond individual vessels to the broader maritime community. In summary, these results illuminate the maritime landscape, emphasizing the importance of understanding the research population, recognizing licensing diversity, and envisioning a connected maritime community. The survey results emphasize the significance of considering the needs and preferences of maritime stakeholders when developing data sharing systems. By addressing usability concerns and technological limitations, and prioritizing essential data parameters, such systems can enhance safety, efficiency, and  
Figure 16: Inland water navigation data that should be shared. Figure 15: Coastal navigation data that should be shared. collaboration within the maritime community. These findings provide valuable insights for the design and implementation of future maritime data sharing initiatives. The following section presents the conceptualization of the UI for the data and visualization of the data-sharing system, detailing both the design process and the validation of the color palette for outdoor use.