beacon
Let an agent handle beacons by type, location, characteristics and navigation rules, citing official charts and notices.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent handle beacons by type, location, characteristics and navigation rules, citing official charts and notices.
A fixed, conspicuous structure or device that marks a location for navigation or warning, such as day beacons, lit beacons, radio beacons, railway balises and navigation marks at sea.
What it is for: Guiding navigation and marking hazards.
It can be identify a beacon type and meaning; read light characteristics on charts; check notices of defects; report damaged aids to navigation.
Distinguishing features
Fixed navigation mark
Visual, light or radio
Standardised meanings
Maintained by authorities
What it looks like
Towers, poles, topmarks, lights or trackside devices.
How it is recognised
Topmarks and colours per IALA system
Light characteristics such as Fl(2) 10s
Buoys float, beacons are fixed
Related models
is a kind of - category
is contrasted with - floating mark
is related to - larger structure
is shown on - publication
In practice
Families and kinds
day beacons
lit beacons
radio beacons
railway balises
historical fire beacons
Standards and regulation
IALA Maritime Buoyage System
Notices to Mariners
ETCS balise specifications
Failure modes and hazards
Unlit or damaged beacons
Using outdated charts
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.beacon
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Identity Which beacon.
Charts identify.
Type
Kind of beacon.
Type
Beacon type.
- What type of beacon is it and what does it mark? definition
- Which IALA region applies? provenance
Location
Position.
Location
Position.
- Where is it, according to the official chart or light list? provenance
- Has it moved? provenance
Signal Characteristics.
Signals follow standards.
Light
Characteristic.
Light
Light characteristic.
- What is its light characteristic and range? measurement
- What does it mean? definition
Topmark
Shape and colour.
Topmark
Topmark.
- What do its colours and topmark indicate? definition
- Which side should it be passed? action
Status Defects.
Aids can fail.
Notices
Defects.
Notices
Notices.
- Is there a current notice about this beacon? provenance
- Who issues notices here? provenance
Report
Damage.
Report
Reporting damage.
- How can a damaged or unlit beacon be reported? action
- Which authority maintains it? provenance
Senses Other beacons.
Beacon has other senses.
Railway
Balise.
Railway
Railway sense.
- Is a railway balise meant? boundary
- Which entry fits? action
Personal
Emergency beacons.
Personal
Emergency beacons.
- Is a personal locator or emergency beacon meant? boundary
- How is it registered? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Should beacon types be separate entries?
- How should light lists be linked?
- How should historical fire beacons be handled?