Computer system and method for maritime surveillance and satellite-based earth observation of objects using nadir-oblique image matching

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for vessel identification are provided. The system includes a data storage device storing: a database of optical oblique images each containing a known candidate vessel having a known unique vessel identifier; and an optical nadir satellite image containing an unknown vessel. The system further includes a processor configured to execute a nadir-oblique image matcher configured to: compare, via a neural network, the nadir image to oblique images in the database including determining a similarity score between the nadir image and a respective oblique image; output, via the neural network, a ranked list of the oblique images based on the determined similarity scores; and assign a known unique vessel identifier to the nadir image based on the ranked list.

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