Gapoy, Frednixen B.

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Name:
Mark:
BSMT2A Marcsh 6, 2022
Year and Section: Date:

LEARNING ACTIVITY NO. 12 for week no. 11

Course Operational use of RADAR / ARPA

Topic 7: Obtained Information from ARPA
Topic 8: Operational Warnings and System Tests
Topic
LO2.8 Interpret correctly the information obtained from ARPA such as:
system performance and accuracy, tracking capabilities and limitations
Learning
Outcome(s) LO2.9: Identify the operational warnings and system tests and its correct
usages.

Instructor Capt. Raymundo Rafael B. Cabrejas

LESSON MAP

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 Overview of Boiler
and Boiler Feed Water

Types of Boiler Feed Water

Introduction to
and its
Marine Boiler Marine Boiler Contaminants

Theory of ARPA Tracing System

 Explain processing delay and other important limitations in the system. When
operating the ARPA in automatic Acquisition mode, the operator must be aware
of the following tracking system limitations:
A. Normally the sensitivity of the ARPA tracking system is reduced when
operating in Automatic acquisition mode.
B. When the “ guard ring” philosophy is used by te ARPA tracking system,
echoes can escape acquisition because the radar at a range closer that the
distance to the inner guard ring detects them or the echoes remain between
guard rings.

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When the “search area” philosophy is used, echoes can escape acquisition because
they are outside the specified area or to many echoes are picked up, resulting in
system overload.

Tracing Window

 To define the echo as a target of interest, a minimum number of sweeps inside the gate
must be defined above the threshold. A good working and properly turned ARPA
tracking system should be capable of acquiring all echoes, which can be seen by the
human eye.
 Each of the radar echoes we want to plot must be processed like this. The different
ARPA manufacturers give us different position on digitized echo as reference for further
processing. Possible target reference points are:
 The front page
 Th center
 Or the back of the digitized radar echo.

RATE AIDING
THE COMPUTER ALGORITHM IN ARPA THAT CONTROLS THE MOVEMENT AND SIZE
OF THE TRACKING GATE IN ORDER TO FOLLOW A TARGET OF INTEREST AFTER IT
HAS BEEN ACQUIRED.

LO 2.9 Operational Warnings

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3.5.1 The ARPA should have the capability to warn the observer with a visual and/or
audible signal of any distinguishable target which closes to a range or transits a zone
chosen by the observer. The target causing the warning should be clearly indicated
on the display.
3.5.2 The ARPA should have the capability to warn the observer with a visual and/or
audible signal of any tracked target which is predicted to close to within a minimum
range and time chosen by the observer. The target causing the warning should be
clearly indicated on the display.
3.5.3 The ARPA should clearly indicate if a tracked target is lost, other than out of
range, and the target's last tracked position should be clearly indicated on the
display.
3.5.4 It should be possible to activate or de-activate the operational warnings.

What tests and warnings should the ARPA provide?

3.10 Performance tests and warnings 

3.10.1 The ARPA should provide suitable warnings of ARPA malfunction to enable the
observer to monitor the proper operation of the system Additionally test programmes should
be available so that the overall performance of ARPA can be assessed periodically against a
known solution

What are the accuracy standards for ARPA?

Explains that the accuracy standards for ARPA are based on sensor errors for equipment
complying with IMO performance standards state performance standards for gyro and log
inputs state performance standards for range and bearing
accuracy and discrimination of radar.

Kinds of Warnings

 Collision Warning - audible and flashing warning activated whenever a traced

target violates the pre-set collision criteria.
 Lost Target - audible and flashing warning activated whenever the system no
longer can track a target.
 System Alarm - audible and flashing warning activated when a pre-set limit is
violated.

Setting Up Maintaining Displays

 The ARPA system Start Up procedure varies from system to system however, the
following points outline the minimum of what must be checked before an ARPA is
operated in basic mode.

 Overlooking one or more of these points may cause serious consequences:

1. Switch on the ARPA and checked that required radar is connected and properly adjust.
2. Check that the ships connected course is feed into system.

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3. Check that the radar antenna alignment is correct, if no, correct it.
4. Check that required log is selected.
5. Select required radar mode, normally True Motion, Course Up or True Motion, North Up
should be use for traffic surveillance purposes.
6. Select required range, vector length and collision warning criteria.
7. Familiarize yourself with the ARPA manufacturers recommended start up procedures
and other recommendations.

 If navigation features are available on your ARPA and you intend to use them, the
following additional points must be checked:

a. Date and time should be displayed correctly on the ARPA information screen.
b. Own ships position input must be kept correct on the ARPA at all times, otherwise all
position must be calculated by the ARPA will be incorrect.
c. In coastal areas, navigation check - points should be marked on the ARPA in order to
assist the navigator in detecting the possible positioning error as soon as possible.
d. Special requirements pointed out by the ARPA manufacturer.

 The main purpose of the ARPA is to provide the navigator wit te possible overview of
the traffic situation at all times.

Problems may occur in using ARPA

System Operational Test

System check and determining data accuracy of ARPA including the trial maneuver facility
by checking against basic radar plot.

Student Reflection:

Write a min. of 100-words per question. Write in your own words and submit your
work before the deadline.

1. What was the most important things you have learnt from the following topics
system performance of ARPA, tracking capabilities and limitations, operational
warnings and system tests?

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 There are a lot of hings that I learned from our topics: system performance of
ARPA, tracking capabilities and limitations, operational warnings and system tests. I
learned that majority of arpa systems have many acquisition modes. Because the
tracking system's capacity is limited, the operator must constantly decide how many
echoes to plot when using the arpa system in manual or manual acquisition mode.
When using the arpa in automatic acquisition mode, the operator should make it a
practice to cancel plotting of targets that are no longer of interest. Normally, the
operator must be aware of the tracking system restrictions. When the ARPA tracking
system is in Automatic acquisition mode, the sensitivity of the system is normally
reduced. When the ARPA tracking system employs the "guard ring" principle,
echoes can elude detection because the radar at a range closer to the inner guard
ring sees them, or the echoes persist between guard rings. The actual limits are
determined by a variety of criteria, including the horizontal beam widths of radar
antennas, antenna rpm, specified pulse length, upper tracking system capability,
tracking philosophy, and so on. When a particular percentage of the calculated
speed vectors exceeds the defined limits, the slow filter is turned off and the fast filter
is turned on, resulting in faster updating of the presented target information. I also
learned that it takes some time before the arpa detects a maneuver once the
maneuver is detected the arpa will update the information more often but the
information will always be behind the real situation the information on the author is
always delayed in relation to real life and this fact must be taken into account at all
times.

2. What area/s of the topic did you fail to grasp on the system performance and
accuracy, tracking capabilities and limitations, operational warnings and system
tests?

The areas of the topic that I failed to grasp on the system performance and
accuracy, tracking capabilities and limitations, operational warnings and system
tests is about tracking system limitations. Admittedly, I am still overwhelmed by the
amount of information that we have to know. There are a lot of information that we
have to memorize. To the best of my abilities, I am striving to familiarize and
7ndertand these topics so that by the time that we are about to use the simulators, I
have the theoretical background.

3. Which point/s of the topics in set-up and maintaining display of ARPA is/are still
not clear enough in your mind?

Since the lessons were thoroughly discussed by our instructor and since I also do
my own research, so far, everything in this module is not that challenging to grasp.
However, I want to know more how will I use Electronic Bearing Lines, gain
control, and rain/sea clutter. From what I learned, Electronic Bearing Lines is used
to take the bearing of targets. The EBL extends from the own ship position to the
circumference of the radar screen. The gain control on the keyboard is used to
adjust the sensitivity of the radar. It should be so adjusted that the background
noise is just visible on the screen. The A/C RAIN and A/C SEA control is used to
adjust the rain and sea clutter respectively.

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Student Additional Activity:
1. Watch the following videos: ARPA Tracking System and Storage

Links: Theory of ARPA tracking system

 https://youtu.be/Yt7o0Mfoz54

Target tracking and Storage

 https://youtu.be/_auP6iMdIH4

2. Make an insight of the videos about ARPA tracking system and its storage.
Write your summary below. Write with your own words. Minimum of 200
words.

By watching the video titled “Theory of ARPA tracking system”, I learned

thhe majority of arpa systems have many acquisition modes. Because the tracking
system's capacity is limited, the operator must constantly decide how many echoes
to plot when using the arpa system in manual or manual acquisition mode. When
using the arpa in automatic acquisition mode, the operator should make it a practice
to cancel plotting of targets that are no longer of interest. Normally, the operator
must be aware of the tracking system restrictions. When the ARPA tracking system
is in Automatic acquisition mode, the sensitivity of the system is normally reduced.
When the ARPA tracking system employs the "guard ring" principle, echoes can
elude detection because the radar at a range closer to the inner guard ring sees
them, or the echoes persist between guard rings. The actual limits are determined by
a variety of criteria, including the horizontal beam widths of radar antennas, antenna
rpm, specified pulse length, upper tracking system capability, tracking philosophy,
and so on. When a particular percentage of the calculated speed vectors exceeds
the defined limits, the slow filter is turned off and the fast filter is turned on, resulting
in faster updating of the presented target information. I also learned that it takes
some time before the arpa detects a maneuver once the maneuver is detected the
arpa will update the information more often but the information will always be behind
the real situation the information on the author is always delayed in relation to real
life and this fact must be taken into account at all times.

I also learned a lot by watching the video titled “Target tracking and Storage”.
discusses various topics related to radar plotting. From the video, I learned that since radar
was introduced in ships after world war two plotting devices have been designed first of a
simple construction still used but as time progressed much more elaborated and sophisticated
design. As of now, it is still important because radar plotting is an alternative to ARPA, it will
be useful when ARPA is unavailable. Plotting has two main purposes: it can show us where
the date is and how close it is to a point before it occurs; it can also show us where the date is
and how close it is to a point before it occurs using a calculated targeting parameter.

It was mentioned that there are 4 plotting process that you must follow, and these are
the following: Detection, Selection, Tracking, and Plotting. Detection is the recognition of the
presence of the target. Selection involves choosing of target requiring closer observation.
Tracking is the process of observing changes in target position. Lastly, plotting refers to the
whole process of detection, selection, tracking, calculation of targets parameter.

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 The video also discussed the difference between true motion and relative motion.
True motion is the movement of an object in relation to the ground (speed and direction). The
motion (speed and direction) of another object with relation to your vessel is referred to as
relative motion.

I also learned about plotting triangle. The video mentioned that in plotting triangle,
OA represents the apparent motion of the target, WA represents the true course and speed of
the target, while OW represents own ship’s motion (course and speed).
.
What I realized after watching the video is that quality and consistency of chart
plotting determines the safety of navigation. As a result, navigators who are chart plotting
should exercise extreme caution. A vessel can be misled by an incorrect course line or
position, which can lead to mishaps.

Formative Assessment:

True or False. Write the correct answer on the space provided.

_False____________1. The sensitivity of the ARPA tracking system is increased

when operating in automatic acquisition mode.
_False____________2. The echoes are remain between guard rings when the
search area philosophy is used by the ARPA tracking system.
_True____________3. The processing time depends on the antenna rotation time.
_True____________4. The information on the ARPA is always on delayed time in
relation to “real life” and this fact must be taken into account at all times.
_False____________5. One of the reason for loosing targets in the ARPA system is
when the target entering the abeam sector.
_False____________6. As range increase the accuracy of bearing and range
information and tracking accuracy increases.
_False____________7. Accuracy of the vector will only be within acceptable limits
after five minutes of steady tracking.
_True____________8. The target causing the warning shall be clearly indicated on
the display.
_False____________9. Only a flashing warning is activated whenever the system no
longer track a target.
_True____________10. Own ships position input must be kept. Correct on the
ARPA at all times.

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References :

 Radar and ARPA Manual, 3rd Edition, A. Bole, A. Wall, A. Norris., the Boulevard,
Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1 GB, UK, ISBN 978-0-08-097752-2, 2014.

 Shipborne Navigation Radar, Liu Tong and Zhang Bin., Dalian Maritime University
Press, ISBN 978-7-5632-2937-6, 2013.

 Radar Observer's Handbook for Merchant Navy Officers, 9th Edition., W. Burger.,
Glasgow, Brown, Son and Ferguson LTD., ISBN 0-85174-666-7, 1998, Reprinted 2008.

 Radar for Mariners, David F. Burch, Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Burch, David, ISBN 0-07-139867-8, 2005.

 A Guide to the Collision Avoidance Rules, 5th Edition., A.N. Cockcroft and J.N.F.
Lameijer, Oxford, Heinemann Professional Publishing, ISBN 0-434-90274-8, 1996.

 Electronic Aids to Navigation: Radar and ARPA, R. Lownsborough and D. Calcutt.,

London, Edward Arnold, ISBN 0-340-59258-3, 1993.

 Parallel Indexing Techniques, I. Smith and R. A. Mulroney, Warsash Publishing, ISBN 0

948646 55 1, 1979.

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