Estimation of Wave Characteristics Based on Global Navigation Satellite System Data Installed on Board Sailboats
Paolo De Girolamo,
Mattia Crespi,
Alessandro Romano,
Augusto Mazzoni,
Marcello Di Risio,
Davide Pasquali,
Giorgio Bellotti,
Myrta Castellino,
Paolo Sammarco
Affiliations
Paolo De Girolamo
“Sapienza”, University of Rome, DICEA, Via Eudossiana, 18, 00184 Roma, Italy
Mattia Crespi
“Sapienza”, University of Rome, DICEA, Via Eudossiana, 18, 00184 Roma, Italy
Alessandro Romano
“Sapienza”, University of Rome, DICEA, Via Eudossiana, 18, 00184 Roma, Italy
Augusto Mazzoni
“Sapienza”, University of Rome, DICEA, Via Eudossiana, 18, 00184 Roma, Italy
Marcello Di Risio
Department of Civil, Construction-Architectural and Environmental Engineering (DICEAA)—Environmental and Maritime Hydraulic Laboratory (LIam), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Davide Pasquali
Department of Civil, Construction-Architectural and Environmental Engineering (DICEAA)—Environmental and Maritime Hydraulic Laboratory (LIam), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Giorgio Bellotti
Engineering Department, Roma Tre University, Via V. Volterra, 62, 00146 Roma, Italy
Myrta Castellino
“Sapienza”, University of Rome, DICEA, Via Eudossiana, 18, 00184 Roma, Italy
Paolo Sammarco
Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science , University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, DICII, Via del Politecnico, 1, 00133 Roma, Italy
This paper illustrates a methodology to get a reliable estimation of the local wave properties, based on the reconstruction of the motion of a moving sailboat by means of GNSS receivers installed on board and an original kinematic positioning approach. The wave parameters reconstruction may be used for many useful practical purposes, e.g., to improve of autopilots, for real-time control systems of ships, to analyze and improve the performance of race sailboats, and to estimate the local properties of the waves. A Class 40 oceanic vessel (ECO40) left from the port of “Riva di Traiano” located close to Rome (Italy) on 19 October 2014 to perform a non-stop sailing alone around the world in energy and food self-sufficiency. The proposed system was installed on ECO40 and the proposed method was applied to estimate the wave properties during a storm in the Western Mediterranean Sea. The results compared against two sets of hindcast data and wave buoy records demonstrated the reliability of the method.
