A geometric analysis-based safety assessment framework for marine vehicle route decision-making

Xu, Z, Wang, Z ORCID: 0000-0002-0035-1789, Li, H ORCID: 0000-0001-6429-9097, Yu, D ORCID: 0000-0003-3177-8942, Yang, Z ORCID: 0000-0003-1385-493X and Wang, J ORCID: 0000-0003-4646-9106 (2026) A geometric analysis-based safety assessment framework for marine vehicle route decision-making. Reliability Engineering and System Safety, 277. pp. 1-13. ISSN 0951-8320

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Abstract

This paper develops a Geometric Analysis-based Route Safety Assessment (GARSA) framework to enhance the safety of marine vehicles navigating in restricted waters. Utilizing line and point geometric elements to define waterway boundaries, the framework enables the construction of a dynamic width characterization function to quantify spatial safety within complex restricted navigation spaces. An iterative method is developed to calculate the dynamic width characterization function, enabling an abstracted spatial property representation of waterways. Based on this, a navigational safety index that accounts for the overall route safety as well as the spatial constraints of local segments is created, enabling the selection of the safest waterway to pass through. Case studies in Hamburg Port and hypothetical waterways show that GARSA identifies spatial safety differences among routes. For example, GARSA assigned safety assessment values of 0.6 and 135 to two intra-port transit routes of 7258 m and 7845 m, respectively, with the higher value indicating a safer route. Overall, GARSA provides a quantitative basis for safety-oriented route decision-making of marine vehicles in restricted waters.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Marine vehicle; Safety assessment; Risk index; Autonomous navigation; 4005 Civil Engineering; 40 Engineering; 35 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services; 14 Life Below Water; 01 Mathematical Sciences; 09 Engineering; 15 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services; Strategic, Defence & Security Studies; 35 Commerce, management, tourism and services; 40 Engineering; 49 Mathematical sciences
Subjects:	T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) V Naval Science > VM Naval architecture. Shipbuilding. Marine engineering
Divisions:	Engineering and Built Environment
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date of acceptance:	13 June 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	25 August 2026
Date Deposited:	25 Aug 2026 11:25
Last Modified:	25 Aug 2026 11:25
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.ress.2026.113040
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29192

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