Eartheye Space and University of Technology Sydney Awarded Grant to Tackle Small Boat Detection

[Sydney, Australia] — Eartheye Space, in partnership with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), has secured a grant under the Australian Government’s Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) program to develop an advanced solution for small boat detection using satellite technology and artificial intelligence.

Addressing a Critical Gap in Maritime Security Challenge

In the vast expanse of the world’s oceans, small boats often go unnoticed, yet they represent the operational backbone of some of the most pressing maritime security threats facing nations today:

Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing drains billions from the global economy annually while devastating marine ecosystems. These operations typically rely on small, agile vessels that can quickly exploit vulnerable fishing grounds before disappearing from surveillance networks.

Human smuggling operations put countless lives at risk while undermining border security frameworks. The vessels used in these dangerous journeys are deliberately chosen for their low profile and ability to evade detection systems.

Illicit trafficking and potential terrorist infiltration pose direct threats to national security, with small boats serving as preferred vessels for moving contraband, weapons, and personnel across international waters undetected.

Current monitoring capabilities – including coastal radar systems, aerial patrols, and community reporting networks, face fundamental limitations when confronting these challenges. Small vessels often operate below the detection threshold of standard surveillance systems, while their sheer numbers make comprehensive manual tracking impossible. This creates a persistent “blind spot” in maritime domain awareness that criminal and security threats actively exploit.

The Solution: Integrating Satellite Intelligence with AI Detection

The AEA Ignite-supported collaboration between UTS and Eartheye Space is developing a comprehensive solution that addresses these detection challenges through innovative technology integration:

High-resolution optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery enables vessel detection across all weather conditions and lighting environments, providing 24/7 surveillance capabilities that traditional systems cannot match.
Automatic Identification System (AIS) and radio frequency data integration allows the platform to cross-reference detected vessels with legitimate maritime traffic, immediately identifying “dark vessels” operating without proper identification or authorization.
Advanced artificial intelligence models specifically trained for small vessel detection can identify boats under 10 meters in length with near real-time processing capabilities, dramatically reducing the time between detection and response.

These capabilities will be fully integrated into Eartheye Space’s existing maritime domain awareness platform, which already serves naval forces and coast guard organizations worldwide, ensuring rapid deployment and scalability.

Operational Impact and Capabilities

The project’s technology-ready prototype will deliver transformative capabilities for maritime security operations:

Proactive monitoring of Australia’s extensive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) – covering over 8.1 million square kilometers, will replace reactive response models with predictive surveillance capabilities.
Near real-time alert systems will enable rapid response to unlawful activities, significantly reducing the operational advantage currently enjoyed by illegal operators.
Integrated enforcement support will enhance fisheries compliance monitoring, environmental protection efforts, and border security operations through a single, scalable platform that can adapt to varying threat levels and operational requirements.

What This Enables?

The project brings together complementary expertise from leading institutions. Professor Jian Zhang and Associate Professor Qiang Wu from UTS contribute world-class research capabilities in computer vision and artificial intelligence, while Dr. Sudhakar Manda from Eartheye Space provides deep industry knowledge in satellite-based surveillance and maritime domain awareness applications.

The project aims to deliver a technology-ready prototype that can:

Monitor Australia’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) proactively.
Provide near real-time alerts on unlawful activity.
Support fisheries enforcement, environmental monitoring, and border security on a scalable level.

Strategic Impact for Australia and Global Markets – The project’s outcomes will directly strengthen Australia’s fisheries sustainability, border security, and defense capabilities while positioning the country as a leader in maritime surveillance innovation. The technology developed through this partnership will also create export opportunities for Australian companies, offering coastal nations worldwide access to advanced small boat detection capabilities.

For a nation with one of the world’s largest maritime territories, this technology represents more than an incremental improvement, it offers a fundamental shift toward proactive maritime domain awareness that can adapt to evolving threats and changing operational requirements.

UTS Tech Lab

UTS Tech Lab is a leading Australian research center specializing in computer vision and artificial intelligence, with an established track record of successfully translating advanced research into commercial applications across defence, transport, and agriculture.

Eartheye Space

Eartheye Space operates the world’s largest Earth observation platform, delivering satellite tasking and real-time information services to customers across defense, security, and environmental sectors globally.