This article is Level 1 in the Filtering training series →
The filter toolbar
At any given time, hundreds of thousands of vessels can be seen in Starboard globally. To narrow the scope of your analysis, you can apply filters that describe the analytical question you have.
Starboard filters can answer these questions by isolating timeframes, areas, and vessel characteristics of interest. The filters can be found in the white toolbar at the top of the screen. Once applied, statistical results will be displayed in the analysis results panel on the left of your screen, while also loading the vessels that match your query on the map.
Analysis filter
The Analysis filter is located to the left of your toolbar, and can be applied to your existing workspace to add additional details for fisheries or biosecurity analysis when required. This process does not remove any existing information–it only adds new information and filtering options.
Learn more:
Time filter
The first filter that you will want to apply when conducting analysis in Starboard, is the Time filter. This refines the timeframe of your analysis to just the selected date range of interest. You can set your time filter to the following options; 2 hours, Today, 2 days, or 7 days. Alternatively, you can use the time picker to select a custom date range.
The 2 hours filter auto-updates to keep your screen up to date with the closest data to real-time as possible. When using the other time filters, Starboard will let you know when new data is available. The 2 hours filter can be useful in busy areas to speed up analysis and for control rooms or live operations.
To use the time picker instead, click on the Time filter in the toolbar, and then find and selecting the Start date on the pop-out calendar. The filter will then automatically swap to an End date prompt, where you can now find and select the end date, before pressing the blue Set button underneath.
There is also the option to change the timezone of your Time filter, by clicking the word Change, below the Set button. You can then search for and select your desired time zone. Click the Save button to apply the new time zone and return to the Time filter.
Tip: Generally, the less vessels that need to be loaded, and the shorter timeframe, the faster they will be loaded. In most situations, the counts in the analysis results box will bring back results more quickly than rendering all the tracks on the map.
Area filter
The Area filter refines the geographic boundary of your analysis. Generally speaking, smaller areas will load faster due to the reduction in processing effort. There are three options to choose from when filtering by Area:
Anywhere, On Screen, and Choose Area.
Anywhere captures vessels whose activity matches your criteria globally, which is useful for comprehensive pattern analysis across large areas or timeframes.
On screen limits the results to vessels which are currently visible on your map view.
Choose area lets you define a specific geographic boundary to search on. Start typing in the search bar to find and select your specific area of interest from the list, and then click Done. The results will include all vessels that have been within that area during your set timeframe, even if they're currently outside of it.
Vessel movement is an additional option when you use the Choose Area filter, as it enables you to toggle between all vessels In area, or just vessels who have Entered the area from a foreign port.
Learn more: Adding your own areas for analysis →
Advanced filters
You can apply and build up a combination of advanced filters via the + Add Filter dropdown menu in the Filter toolbar. Click the following links to read more about each filter category:
*Fishing registration filters are only available when the Fishing Analysis filter is selected, in the top left of your Filter toolbar.
Tip: Advanced filters, such as filtering by flag state, remove all non-matching vessels from your results. In contrast, using the visibility options (eye icons) in the Analysis Results panel to hide selected flags does not remove them from the results–only hides them from view. This means they will still be included in the vessel list, downloads, and bulk selections on the map when using Shift + left-click drag.
Filtering training series
Follow our Filtering training continuum to learn more advanced techniques:
Level 1: You’ve just completed it!