Hydrographic Institute hosts the AI-DORIS workshop

The Hydrographic Institute (IH) will host, on 28 January, a workshop dedicated to the AI-DORIS project (Artificial Intelligence-Driven Ocean Current Prediction System based on High Frequency Radar Data). The event will take place at IH premises and may also be followed via live streaming on the IH YouTube channel.

Knowledge of ocean currents is a fundamental element for maritime decision support, particularly in operations such as pollution response, navigation safety, and search and rescue missions, where the availability of reliable surface current forecasts is especially critical.

It is within this context that the AI-DORIS project – Artificial Intelligence-Driven Ocean Current Prediction System based on High Frequency Radar Data was developed at the Hydrographic Institute, with the aim of enhancing ocean decision-support models through the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to ocean observational data.

Within the scope of AI-DORIS, a short-term forecasting model for surface ocean currents is being developed, based exclusively on data collected by coastal high-frequency (HF) radars integrated into the MONIZEE marine monitoring network. The AI-based approach effectively captures the local variability of currents, resulting in forecasts that are closer to the observed real state of the ocean and that require fewer computational resources when compared to traditional hydrodynamic models.

The mission of AI-DORIS is to provide a robust and operational public service aimed at entities responsible for maritime space management and emergency response, such as the Maritime Authority, Civil Protection, and other organisations involved in maritime safety and surveillance. The products developed within the project have direct application in real-world scenarios, including pollutant drift forecasting, delineation of search areas in SAR operations, and enhanced navigation safety in dynamically complex coastal zones.

Beyond these immediate operational applications, AI-DORIS contributes to the development of new digital marine services, aligned with emerging initiatives such as the International Hydrographic Organization’s S-100 standard and the Digital Twin of the Ocean concept. By delivering observation-based forecasts that can be integrated into spatial data infrastructures and digital platforms, the project strengthens interoperability, standardisation, and the reuse of ocean information, creating favourable conditions for its integration into broader digital ecosystems supporting decision-making, maritime spatial planning, and maritime domain management.

AI-DORIS is funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the call “Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Cybersecurity of relevance to Public Administration” (DOI: https://doi.org/10.54499/2024.07521.IACDC). The project is aligned with national digital transformation strategies, contributing to the modernisation of public services and to a more efficient, integrated and intelligent use of ocean data.

By combining science, observation and artificial intelligence, AI-DORIS stands as a concrete contribution to the evolution of digital marine services, strengthening decision support, maritime safety, and preparedness for future digital ocean ecosystems.