Type of Data

Resolution

Collection Area

Latency

Revisit

Strengths

Weaknesses

Satellite Radar (Sentinel-1)

10 meters

Medium

3-6 hours

2 weeks

- Sees through clouds

- Minimal to no detail about maritime objects

Optical Imagery (Sentinel-2)

10 meter

Medium

3-6 hours

5 days

- Capable of detecting vessels of many sizes

- Limited by clouds 

Optical Imagery (Landsat 8,9)

15 meter (30 meter color added)

Medium

3-7 hours

8 days

- Capable of detecting vessels of many sizes

- Limited by clouds 

Night Lights (VIIRS)

750 meter

Very Large

2-2.5 hours

Three times or more nightly

- Global coverage multiple times per night

- Low latency

- Limited by bright moonlight, thick clouds

- 2+ vessels may appear as one detection

- No physical details of vessels

Satellite Radar (Commercial - Airbus, IceEye*)

5, 20, or 40 meters

Small to large

90 minutes or longer

Multiple opportunities per day

- Sees through clouds

- Limited detail about maritime objects

Radio Frequency (Commercial - Unseen Labs*)

No image

Large

3-24 hours

Multiple opportunities per day

- Huge coverage footprint

- Sees through clouds

- Low geolocation accuracy

- No physical details of vessel

Optical Imagery (Commercial - Maxar*)

~1 meter

Very small

90 minutes or longer

Multiple opportunities per day

- High detail including size, vessel type, and gear visible

- Limited by clouds 

- Small coverage footprint