# Sensing in Inland Waters to Promote Safe Navigation: A Case Study in the Aveiro's Lagoon
## 3 Low-Cost Maritime Data-Sharing System Design and Evaluation  
This section delves into the systematic process employed to achieve the study's goals, applying several techniques and methodologies, namely a comparative analysis of available technologies and data sharing systems as well as the UI designed to deliver the data sharing system to the target audience and its architecture. A core element of this procedure entailed the collation of insights through a targeted survey, which provided indispensable feedback on user needs and preferences. These insights proved invaluable in guiding the development of the low-cost system, ensuring that it met the identified requirements. The integration of user feedback with the technical design allowed for a refined and user-centered approach. This comprehensive exploration \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt}} \hline \hline
**What Is Shared** & **Where This Data Is** & **Primary Reason for Sharing This Data** \\ \hline Wind speed & MFD, plotter, ECDIS or a small analog display & Allows sailors to adjust their routes and navigation strategies to optimize vessel performance; Aids in preventing dangerous situations such as vessel drifting by anticipating weather and wind changes. \\ \hline Water depth (observed depth) & MFD, plotter, or a small analogic display embedded in the boats & Crucial for determining route viability and avoiding shallow or no-go areas; Enables sailors to identify navigable channels to avoid grounding; Ensenses safe navigation, especially in unfamiliar areas; Real-time depth data allow for immediate route adjustments, enhancing navigational safety. \\ \hline Tide Height & MFD, plotter, tide forecast services (e.g., websites and mobile apps) or ride tables & Tidal heights influence the extent of intertidal zones, which are crucial habitats for various marine species. By understanding tidal patterns, vessels can plan their routes to take advantage of favorable tidal currents, reducing travel time and fuel consumption. \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{p{113.8 pt}}{Non-meteo-oceanographic data} & Allows for adjustments in voyage planning and enables real-time decision-making about speed adjustments to maintain safety. \\ \hline Heading & MFD, (using GPS and Compass), Plotter, ECDIS, AIS, or analog compass & Correcting the heading in real-time to deal with currents and winds that may drift the vessel off its intended course. \\ \hline Course & MFD (using GPS and compass), plotter, ECDIS or analog display & Confirming that the defined route is being followed accurately, facilitating efficiency and promoting safe navigation. \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Overview of data shared to provide an understanding of the: data types, where the data are visualized, and the primary reasons for sharing the values. This table summarizes a structure to identify the relevant types of information based on the boat’s current situation. not only addressed the complex challenges inherent to maritime operations but also enabled the identification and validation of both functional and design requirements. These requirements were subsequently incorporated into the data-sharing system, ensuring that it is both effective and responsive to real-world needs. Moreover, it addresses the implementation of a nautical simulation station to test the sharing and visualizing system. The exploration of these techniques provided insights into the strategies and tools used to address the complex challenges inherent to maritime operations and allowed us to identify and validate the functional and design requirements that needed to be incorporated into the system itself and its prototype. The case study methodology [49; 50] was applied, leveraging a phenomenological approach to explore specific contexts within the Aveiro's lagoon. This methodology allows for a comprehensive examination of societal actions impacting the environment [50], particularly in the realm of maritime navigation.