In the era of advanced machine learning, detecting marine vessels from satellite imagery has become an exciting venture. The YOLOv8 model, specifically designed for this purpose, allows you to harness the power of satellite data to achieve remarkable accuracy in vessel detection. In this article, we will walk you through how to get started using the YOLOv8 model, along with troubleshooting tips to smooth the path of your marine traffic detection journey.
Understanding YOLOv8 for Marine Vessels
This model serves as a tool to identify marine vessels within RGB images captured by the Sentinel-2 satellite. Just like a seasoned fisherman knows where to look for the biggest catch, this model has been trained on meticulously annotated data to spot vessels in the vast oceanic expanse.
metrics:
- type: precision
value: 0.880
name: mAP@0.5(box)
- type: precision
value: 0.858
name: Precision@0.5
- type: recall
value: 0.875
name: Recall@0.5
- type: precision
value: 0.453
name: mAP(box)
How to Get Started
- Access the model from the GitHub repository: mayrajeoship-detection.
- Prepare your dataset of Sentinel-2 imagery, ensuring the images are in 320×320 pixels for processing.
- Run the model and obtain outputs detailing the detected marine vessels.
Training Details
The YOLOv8 model is trained with 3,264 patches from Sentinel-2 imagery, where it learns to differentiate between marine vessels and background. Similar to how a detective sorts through clues to solve a case, the model categorizes these patches to sharpen its detection abilities.
Recommended Uses and Limitations
This model is optimized for identifying vessels in closer coastal waters or denser archipelagos rather than the open sea. Hence, it works best in calm conditions; windy weather can induce false detections from wakes and reflections that it mistakes for vessels.
Troubleshooting
- If you notice many false positives, check the external datasets you use, such as land masks, to filter out detections outside water areas.
- For missing detections, consider enhancing your training dataset with more annotations or applying fine-tuning techniques.
- Always verify that your dataset aligns with the model’s requirements concerning size, format, and resolution.
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Conclusion
At fxis.ai, we believe that advancements like this YOLOv8 model for marine vessel detection are essential for improving our understanding of marine traffic. Our dedication to exploring innovative methods ensures our clients stay ahead in technological advancements.

