DigiMar
Learning tools to promote navigation safety
The aim of the DigiMar project is to improve maritime navigation safety by carrying out a digital teaching experiment. The opportunities provided by digital technologies will be used in the development of the learning tools by utilising such instruments as teaching videos and speech recognition chatbots. The universities participating in the project will develop digital tools to support learning and the tools will be tested in practice by such groups as Fintraffic’s Vessel Traffic Services personnel and maritime students.
The aim of the DigiMar project is to improve safety by enhancing maritime communications skills and by using open access digital teaching tools. The project focus is on developing digital education and learner-centred teaching practices and tools based on genuine maritime needs. Higher education teachers from different sectors will participate in the project, which will support and strengthen new types of multidisciplinary cooperation. Fintraffic will take part in the project as an expert.
Practical project content
The project will utilise the potential of digital technologies by developing open access teaching videos and speech recognition chatbots supporting continuous and independent learning. In this way, digital skills of the target group users and higher education teachers can be developed.
The project is divided into five work packages:
- Project management
- Developing vessel traffic communications standards and knowledge-based contents
- Developing, introducing and evaluating digital teaching tools
- Comparing vessel traffic communications standards and knowledge-based contents
- Utilising and disseminating the project results
Target groups for the training material developed in the project
The training material that will be developed in the project is intended for persons working in vessel traffic services and some of the operational personnel at Fintraffic VTS will also receive the training developed in the project. The learning paths based on the training material will progress from simple to complex exercises and videos.
Project partners will use the digital tools to create and analyse language and communications databases and to prepare simulation tasks for maritime communications. The use of the digital tools developed, introduced and evaluated in the project will support the opportunities provided by digital technologies in teaching and learning at all levels and in all sectors where communications training is needed.
The database and the chatbot may later be utilised in the development of a more extensive maritime communications library, which can be used in AI-based speech recognition and communications management solutions, especially on autonomous and remotely controlled vessels.
The project follows the Digital Education Action Plan of the EU
The DigiMar project follows the strategic priorities of the Digital Education Action Plan of the EU (2021–2027) by supporting high-quality digital education accessible and open to all and by presenting digital opportunities for the education and research community, decision-makers, academics and researchers. The development, introduction and evaluation of open access digital teaching tools are expected to make the participating institutions better prepared to effectively move towards digital education.
