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navigational aid

vr.tr.navigational-aid · thing-q3565782

Let an agent explain navigational aids by domain and type, help interpret them from charts and conventions, and support reporting of faults and safe navigation.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems PHY.BLT
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Interpret What it means.

Marine

Buoys and lights.

Marine

Marine aids.

  1. What does this buoy, beacon or light characteristic indicate under the IALA system in this region? provenance
  2. Which side should it be passed on? definition

Aviation

Aviation aids.

Aviation

Aviation aids.

  1. What does this aviation beacon or lighting system indicate? definition
  2. Which radio aids serve this airport? provenance
Use Navigating.

Charts

Charts and notices.

Charts

Charts.

  1. Where is this aid charted, and are there notices about changes? provenance
  2. Is the chart up to date? boundary

Electronic

Electronic aids.

Electronic

Electronic aids.

  1. How do GNSS and radio aids complement visual aids? definition
  2. What happens when they fail? boundary
Maintain Faults.

Report

Reporting faults.

Report

Reporting.

  1. How can a missing or unlit aid be reported to the responsible authority? provenance
  2. Who maintains aids in this area? provenance

Markers

Survey markers.

Markers

Survey markers.

  1. What is this survey or boundary marker, and is it protected by law? provenance
  2. Who should be informed if it is damaged? provenance
Heritage History.

Lighthouses

Historic lighthouses.

Lighthouses

Historic lighthouses.

  1. Which historic lighthouses can be visited here? provenance
  2. How have aids evolved? provenance

Curiosities

Unusual markers.

Curiosities

Unusual markers.

  1. What are take-off stones, property stones and other unusual markers? definition
  2. Where are examples? provenance

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Physical world and living systems
Entry kind
thing
Plane
PHY
Domain
PHY.BLT
Other names and narrower kinds
geographical marker, take off stone, calibration mark, Metro line cube, property stones, light float, radio beacon chain, signal station, Inogon light

What it is Filled

A navigational aid is a marker, structure or device that helps travellers determine position or find a safe course, whether fixed, moored or space-based, including lighthouses, buoys, light floats, beacons, daymarks, radio and satellite aids; boundary, survey and calibration markers qualify only when they assist travel navigation, and authority maintenance or inclusion on charts or maps is not required.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent explain navigational aids by domain and type, help interpret them from charts and conventions, and support reporting of faults and safe navigation.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • Navigational aids may be fixed, moored or space-based.
  • Navigational aids use standardised conventions.
  • Navigational aids may be charted and maintained by authorities, but neither is required.
  • Navigational aids serve multiple domains of travel.

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Move, obscure, switch off or damage a lighthouse, buoy, beacon or marker.
  • Show a light, signal or transmission that could be mistaken for an official aid.
  • Present an aid as working when it has been reported out of service.
  • Disturb survey or boundary markers that record legal positions.

Only with a human decision

  • Issuing or withdrawing a warning to mariners or travellers about a failed aid.
  • Relocating or decommissioning an aid.

May

  • Report the position, character and status of navigational aids from official notices and charts.
  • Monitor an aid it is authorized to watch and report an outage or displacement to the authority that maintains it.

Moral aspects Filled

  • Travellers trust these aids with their lives; a missing or false aid can cause wrecks and deaths.
  • Historic lighthouses and markers are often cultural heritage as well as working equipment.

Who is affected

  • Mariners, pilots and travellers
  • Crews of rescue services
  • Coastal communities

Owners Filled

Steward

The owner, operator or responsible custodian where one is identified, which may be a public authority, community or private party.

Master systems

  • Official lists of lights and notices to mariners document aids within their remit.
  • Nautical and aeronautical charts record some navigational aids without defining the full class.

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q811430 - registry parent class

related

  • fixed construction - category
  • light-communication - light signals
  • nautical chart - reference
  • ship - users

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.navigational-aid
  • Wikidata: Q3565782 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3565782)

Direct properties required Filled

  • Height above reference level: m - Measure the structure or signal elevation relative to the stated ground or water datum.
  • Overall width: m - Measure the maximum horizontal extent of the physical marker or device.
  • Signal repetition period: s - For a periodic signaling aid, measure the time required for its complete signal pattern to repeat.

Recognition required Filled

  • Standard colours and shapes
  • Charted positions
  • Advertising signs are not aids
  • Towers, buoys, beacons, markers and posts with distinctive colours and lights.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • identify a navigational aid and its meaning
  • explain buoyage and light conventions
  • find charts and notices to mariners
  • report damaged or missing aids

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Missing or unlit aids
  • Misinterpreting conventions
  • Over-reliance on a single system

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • IALA maritime buoyage system
  • ICAO standards for aviation aids
  • National survey and boundary marker laws

Context of use required Filled

  • Safe navigation and positioning.
  • marine aids such as lighthouses and buoys
  • aviation aids such as beacons and lighting
  • land markers and survey monuments
  • electronic aids such as radio beacons and GNSS
  • historical aids

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q3565782: navigational aid - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: Navigational aid - general description of the item

Open questions

  • Should each aid type be a separate entry?
  • How should chart data be linked?
  • How should fault reporting be localised?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q3565782/spec.json