Raster Nautical Chart Example

Today, national hydrographic offices such as the Office of Coast Survey (OCS)are producing RNC's and endorsing the use of RCDS as an officially accepted tool to enhance safe navigation. These georeferenced electronic images of paper nautical charts are exact reproductions of the paper chart, providing mariners a familiar picture with which they are experienced.

OCS RNC's are produced by scanning at high resolution the original color separates, which are used to print the paper charts. The digital files are carefully georeferenced to enable navigation software to map geographic positions to locations in the image. Metadata is added describing the chart, its datum, projection and other information about the chart and the digital file.

Software engineering is expanding RCDS' functionality such as real-time positioning -- the ability to use the familiar chart image and show at an instant exactly where one's ship is in relation to its charted surroundings. Existing raster navigation software interfaces with electronic positioning systems including GPS and DGPS. These powerful navigation tools support voyage planning and monitoring (routes, way points, off-track alarms, log books, voyage recording, chart annotation tools,..), access to chart notes, access to large suites of charts on-line, bearing and distance calculations, subdued night colors, and much more.

Free "Demo" Raster Chart Navigation Software

• Global Navigation Software Co.
  
• Maptech Raster Chart Software
  
• Nobeltec Raster Chart Software
  
• The Cap'n Raster Chart Software
  
  

Free Software for GIS Projects

• Nautical Chart Viewer Software
  
  

Definitions

RCDS - Raster Chart Display System. Computer-based marine navigation systems that use raster nautical charts (RNC) and electronic positioning to provide an integrated navigation tool.

RNC - Raster Nautical Chart. A georeferenced, digital picture of a paper chart which can be used in a raster chart system.

ECDIS - The Electronic Chart Display and Information System is a computer-based marine navigation system that uses electronic navigational charts (ENC) and electronic positioning to provide an integrated navigation tool. Use of ECDIS has been accepted by IMO as suitable for meeting the chart carriage requirements of SOLAS.

ENC - The Electronic Nautical Chart (ENC) is the data base of chart features and their attributes which is used in an ECDIS to construct and query a chart-like display. The ENC data is written in an exchange standard of the IHO designated S-57.

Standards for RCDS

• Product Specifications for Raster Navigational Charts (RNC) - IHO Special Publication 61
  
  
• NOAA announces in the Federal Register a policy that brings Raster Nautical Charts within the envelope of what NOAA defines as official charts.
  
  
• IMO APPROVES STANDARDS FOR RASTER CHART DISPLAY SYSTEM (RCDS)
  
  
• RCDS Mode of Operation - (This is the RCDS Performance Standard that will be submitted to IMO for adoption. Its adoption will allow carriage of RCDS to meet the SOLAS requirements for charts.)
  
  
• Performance Standards: A Summary of Recent Events in the IMO
  
  
• Draft Safety of Navigation Subcommittee Circular: "Differences between RCDS and ECDIS"
  
  
• IMO Resolution a.817 (19): "Performance Standards for Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS)"