The traffic control center NOK monitors and regulates traffic on the canal based on a path-time diagram. In this diagram, the Kiel Canal is recognizable as a blue band in the middle. All locks and switches are represented in color. The routes of the ships that first pass through the Brunsbüttel lock are held on the right edge, while the routes of the ships coming from Kiel are on the left edge.
The X-axis of the diagram represents the Kiel Canal, while the Y-axis shows the time of the respective day. The respective position of a ship is continuously transferred into the path-time diagram through the IT-supported system. This allows the traffic controller to read which ship is currently in the canal and, more importantly, which ship is traveling at what speed and where it is headed. This forecast is essential for determining the expected encounters of the ships.
Image above: Path-Time Diagram
Image below: Principle representation of a switch.