Maritime Display Framework FAQs

Yes. The Maritime Display Framework (MDF) is a C# .NET source code package for developing customised ARPA, ECDIS and integrated bridge displays. It is a good starting point for this kind of application.

Other options:

• The Surveillance Display Framework (SDF) is for multi-screen, shore-based or ground-based systems such as coastal surveillance and port security.
• The SPx Development Library provides C++ and .NET classes for building radar processing and display into your own application.
• Cambridge Pixel's in-house team can customise MDF for you, or carry out custom development.

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Both. MDF is available as a turnkey application and, with the SPx Development Library, as a source-code framework for developers to modify and extend. MDF's default configuration provides a functional maritime display without any development.

If you need changes but don't have your own developers, Cambridge Pixel's in-house team can implement the customisations for you.

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MDF gives you a working maritime display, with source code for the application layer, as the starting point for your own development. It is generally much easier to modify and extend an application that already implements the core functionality than to start from scratch.

MDF is written in C# for a Windows .NET WPF client. Its modular design separates display functions from the controls that interact with the radar transceiver, so one display can serve a variety of radar antennas and transceivers. Its appearance can be customised, for example to match an existing integrated bridge system.

The final product may look very different from the standard MDF, but having the framework from the beginning is generally a productivity boost. For example, SEA-KIT used MDF for the remote control centre display of radar data from its uncrewed surface vessels.

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MDF is a framework that a system developer can use as the starting point for an ARPA, ECDIS or integrated bridge system display. It already includes typical ARPA features and electronic chart support, which you then adapt and extend for your product.

Features relevant to these systems include:

• Predictive vectors, CPA/TCPA calculations and alarms
• EBL, VRM and parallel index lines
• Heading-up, north-up and course-up modes, true and relative trails, and ground stabilisation
• S-57 / S-63 electronic chart support
• Radar control and status via SPx Server
• Day, dusk and night colour palettes

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MDF usually needs an NMEA-0183 navigation data input, ASTERIX CAT-240 radar video, and radar tracks in ASTERIX CAT-48, SPx or NMEA TTM format. AIS input and H.264 camera video via RTSP are also supported.

Radar video and tracks normally come from SPx Server. To combine radar tracks with AIS, use SPx Fusion Server. MDF supports up to four radars, each with its own radar video and tracks.

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MDF works with most maritime radars through SPx Server, which converts radar video to ASTERIX CAT-240 and generates tracks for MDF. Radar control from MDF is currently available for models from Furuno, Hensoldt, JRC, Raymarine, Simrad, Sperry and Terma.

MDF controls the radar by sending commands to SPx Server. Extended controls, support for the latest models in a manufacturer's range, or a new radar can be added on request.

See the supported radars list or consult our support team for details.

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MDF handles CPA/TCPA (Closest Point of Approach and Time to CPA) values and related alarms natively, using the SPx .NET library. MDF also generates predictive vectors and warns if there is a danger of collision with other ships.

Alarms can also depend on the target, for example on hazardous cargo status provided in AIS.

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Yes. MDF includes S-57 / S-63 electronic chart support, so radar video, tracks and AIS targets can be displayed over electronic navigation charts.

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MDF supports up to four radars, each with radar video and tracks, and up to 350 radar and/or AIS targets. It supports display resolutions up to 8K UHD (7680x4320) and Windows touch screens.

Each display has a main PPI with multiple rectangular regions of interest, secondary zoomed PPI windows that can automatically centre on a target, and tabbed camera video windows from multiple CCTV inputs.

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MDF is designed for single-screen, moving-platform systems on board ships and vessels. The Surveillance Display Framework (SDF) supports multi-screen systems that are shore-based, ground-based or on any stationary platform. Both are C# .NET frameworks that can be supplied with source code.

SDF suits coastal surveillance, offshore wind farm monitoring, military range safety and port security systems, and the modernisation of legacy systems. Its development package includes the SPx Development Library, a development licence, a time-limited 12-month SPx Server licence, and 12 months of software updates and engineering support.

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