The automatic identification system (AIS) is a tracking system used on ships and by vessel traffic services. Alongside its practical application to maritime safety, AIS is useful for research on a variety of topics.
Based on a request from the Bappenas Directorate of Macroeconomics and Statistical Analysis and an initial analysis (conducted at our previous data dive on trade and competitiveness) of port network connectivity using AIS data, further analysis was conducted using the data set with a view to informing maritime development policy.
The research included developing summary statistics of vessel activity at ports across Indonesia, describing the evolution of the port network across Southeast Asia over the past few years, and predicting how the maritime network in Indonesia and across the region will evolve given specific scenarios — including with and without Tol Laut, a major marine infrastructure investment programme promoted by the Government of Indonesia.
