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Real-time global vessel tracking platform with 3D globe visualization. Monitors ship positions via AIS data, detects port arrivals/departures using geospatial analysis, and provides economic intelligence derived from shipping patterns.
Global shipping accounts for 90% of world trade, yet tracking vessel movements and deriving economic intelligence from maritime data remains complex. Existing solutions either lack real-time capabilities, require expensive enterprise subscriptions, or fail to provide meaningful insights beyond raw position data.
We built ShippingTracker as a comprehensive maritime intelligence platform that ingests real-time AIS data, processes it through geospatial analysis, and presents actionable insights via an interactive 3D globe. The system detects port events automatically and derives economic indicators from shipping patterns.
ShippingTracker uses a three-tier architecture with FastAPI backend handling data ingestion and geospatial processing, PostgreSQL with PostGIS for spatial data storage, and a Next.js frontend featuring a stunning 3D globe visualization powered by Globe.gl and Three.js.
High-performance Python API handling AIS data ingestion, geospatial calculations, and REST endpoints
FastAPI, Pydantic, async/await, Background tasks
Spatial database storing vessel positions, port boundaries, and historical tracking data
PostgreSQL 15, PostGIS extension, Spatial indexes, Time-series queries
Real-time ingestion of vessel positions from AIS data sources via WebSocket
WebSocket client, Message parsing, Position normalization, Duplicate filtering
Interactive visualization showing vessels, ports, and routes on a photorealistic earth
Next.js 15, Globe.gl, Three.js, Real-time updates, Custom markers
The core innovation is a sophisticated pipeline that transforms raw AIS position data into actionable maritime intelligence. The system automatically detects port events, calculates vessel routes, and derives economic indicators from shipping patterns.
Shapely polygons define precise port boundaries - when a vessel position intersects a port polygon, an arrival event is triggered
Historical position data is interpolated and smoothed to reconstruct complete vessel routes between ports
Trade volume estimates derived from vessel capacity, port dwell times indicate supply chain congestion
3D earth rendering with WebGL showing vessel positions as animated markers, routes as arcs, and ports as highlighted regions
WebSocket connection ensures the globe updates within seconds of receiving new AIS data from vessels worldwide
ShippingTracker provides unprecedented visibility into global maritime trade, enabling users to track vessels in real-time and understand economic patterns from shipping data.