Equipment specific ECDIS trainingPrincipal types of Electronic Charts

Principal types of Electronic Charts

Introduction

Principal types of Electronic Charts

Training chapter objective

The student needs to be able to•Describe and separate Principal dypes of electronich charts

•Separate different official status of charts

•Understand various distribution methods for charts

•Describe under which condition a chart may be used in an ECDIS for primary navigation

Matrix Raster Vector

Private TX-97

Official ARCS ENC

Principal types of Electronic Charts

Depth20-30m

Depth10-20m

Depth 5-10m

Depth 0-5m Land+ + + +

20

10

50 Land

Chart displayed

Principal types of Electronic Charts

Vector

Raster

Principal types of Electronic Charts

Different types of Electronic Charts

Raster

traditional Graphics-oriented data Object-based data

Vector

Principal types of Electronic Charts

Raster Charts

Raster Charts (ARCS, Seafarer, BSB, NOS Geo....)

Scanned charts - an image!

Advantages:

• Inexpensive to produce

• Similar to paper chartsDisadvantages:

• ”Dead chart”, no Alarms • Limited zoom options• Requires large memory

capacity• Expensive to correct (a

new chart)• Only easy to read in

north-up orientation

Principal types of Electronic Charts

Vector Charts

Vector Charts (ENC, TX 97, C-Map 93...)

Digitalized paper charts- every object is defined and grouped in layers that can be selected within the set safety parameters.

Advantages:• Automatic alarm generation

• Optional information (customized settings)

• Zoom-able

• Easy to correct

• Requires little memory capacity (quick loading)

• Information can be added (files, pictures etc.)• Readability in all presentations (Head-up, North-up, Course-up)• Presentation according to the safety parameters of the own ship

Disadvantages:• Expensive and time demanding production

• Layout can be a bit different from paper charts

• Coding errors even in official ENCs

Principal types of Electronic Charts

Chart formats

RNC • ARCS• NOAA• SEAFARER

Principal types of Electronic Charts

Chart formats

S-57• PRIMAR• IC-ENC• JHA

Principal types of Electronic Charts

Private Chart Formats

• TX-97 Transas

• CM93C-Map/Jeppesen

Principal types of Electronic Charts

Chart formats

• DNC• VPF • NGA

Principal types of Electronic Charts

Availability of ENC Charts , April 2010

Principal types of Electronic

ENC distribution

Electronic chart distributionWith all charts being produced by national Hydrographic offices the distribution and updating are managed in different way

• Through the national hydrographic office itself

• Through “RENC”s• A RENC is a Regional ENC Co-coordinating

Centre. Each major geographical area of the world would have its own RENC. Each ENC-producing nation would send its data to the local RENC, who would then be responsible for validating and distributing its ENCs to end-users.

• Through various bundled services• Transas TADS• UKHO AVCS

Principal types of Electronic Charts

SENC and TADS

• When an ENC chart is loaded into the system, it becomes a SENC, a System Electronic Navigational Chart

• With TADS you can load pre-processed data which saves you a lot of time during the loading of the Base CDs

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Base cd 1

Base cd 2

Base cd 3

Base cd 4

Base cd 5

Base cd 6

Base cd 7

Update cd

ELAP

SED

TIM

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MIN

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ENC/AVCSSENC/TADS

Principal types of Electronic Charts

Distinctions

ECSElectronic Chart

System

• Navigation AID• No substitute for

paper charts• All Chart formats

permitted (official and non-official)

• Status definition

ECDISElectronic Chart Display

and Information System

• Primary navigation system• Substitution of paper charts

permitted• Using ENC charts• Clear definition• If using non-official data,

ECDIS becomes an ECS

RCDSRaster Chart Display

System

• An ECDIS using official RNC charts

• Primary Navigation system if area is not covered by ENCs

• Back-up substitution of paper charts depends on Flag State

• If using non-official data, ECDIS becomes an ECS