Introduction to ECDIS

ECDIS
&
Electronic Charts
 Learning Objectives
Nautical charts
Carriage requirements
Definitions
Introduction to performance standards
Types of electronic charts
Data Reliability
 What is a chart?
A chart is
it is an assumed model of the seafloor relying on a
remotely-sensed collection of data
it requires judgement to compile
it is difficult to verify

Chart reliability depends on:

the age, accuracy and completeness of the source
information

No chart is infallible
 Chart Carriage Requirement
IMO SOlAS V/19:
All ships irrespective of size shall have:-

2.1.4 Nautical charts and nautical publications to plan and display

the ships route for the intended voyage and to plot and monitor
positions throughout the voyage. An electronic chart display and
information system (ECDIS) is also accepted as meeting the chart
carriage requirements of this subparagraph; Ships to which
paragraph 2.10 applies shall comply with the carriage requirements
for ECDIS detailed therein.

2.1.5 Back up arrangements to meet the functional requirements of

paragraph 2.1.4, if this function is partly or fully fulfilled by electronic
means.
 ECDIS Carriage requirements
Phased in process started July 2012.
Complete by July 2018
For vessels on International Voyages
Passenger ships 500gt and upwards
Tankers of 3,000gt and upwards
New Cargo Vessels of 3,000gt and upwards
Existing Cargo Vessels of 10,000gt and
upwards
ECDIS Mandation
 SOLAS V Reg 27

nautical charts, nautical publications, such as

sailing directions, lists of lights, notices to
mariners, tide tables and other nautical
publications necessary for the intended
voyage, shall be adequate and up-to-date
 Marine Orders 21
Electronic versions of nautical publications should be:
a) officially issued by an administration, authorised hydrographic office, or
other relevant approved organization; and
b) accessible using a dedicated computer located on the bridge which is
available at all times to the Officer of the Watch, and which is connected
to the ships main and emergency power supplies; and
c) available either:
i. on at least one other back up computer that can be made available to the
Officer of the Watch within 5 minutes; or
ii. as up to date paper printouts of relevant nautical publications.

In addition, all digital software and hardware used for accessing official
electronic versions of nautical publications shall comply with the
recommendations of MSC/Circ.891 Guidelines for the onboard use and
application of computers.
 Nautical chart
Nautical chart" or "nautical publication" is a
special-purpose map or book, or a specially
compiled database from which such a map or
book is derived, that is issued officially by or
on the authority of a Government, authorized
Hydrographic Office or other relevant
government institution and is designed to
meet the requirements of marine navigation.
 Performance Standards

IMO IHO
S-52 S-57
Performance Colour and symbol specification Transfer standard for
standards for for ECDIS digital Hydrographic
App1- guidance on updating Data
ECDIS. App2 Colours and symbols
MSC 232(82) App 3 ECDIS related terms

IEC 61174
Maritime navigation and communication equipment and systems
Electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) operational and
Performance standards, methods of testing and required test results
10
 Electronic Charts
Generic term digital representation of paper
navigation chart.
2 types : Raster & Vector charts.
Raster Chart: Scanned & passive image of
paper chart
Vector Chart: Digital presentation of chart by
objects & attributes within a database
 Raster Charts
Electronic photographs of existing
paper chart
Scanning technique is used to
faithfully reproduce the image of
the paper chart
Image is composed as a set of
pixels
Computer doesnt have any info
on these pixels Restrictive to
query
Raster Charts
 Raster Format Charts

WARNING !!
over zooming of Raster
chart will give rise to
pixelization of display
Raster Chart with vector overlay
 Raster Charts
Advantages
User familiaritysame symbols & colours as paper chart.
Same reliability and integrity.
User cannot inadvertently omit any navigational
information from the display.
Kept in step with paper charts
Lower cost of production.
Easier to ensure quality
Same format for other publications
Wider availability (worldwide coverage).
 Raster Charts
Disadvantages
Over zooming causes pixelization
Datum may or may not be WGS 84
User cannot customise the display
No additional information available, cannot be interrogated without
additional database
Inaccuracies of paper charts are also been transferred
Cannot be sensibly rotated
Larger memory requirements than Vector charts
Cannot directly provide indications or alarms to indicate a warning.
Case Study
 Australian Raster Charts
Produced by AHO
Under trade name Seafarer Charts
Produced to IHO Standards using an HCRF
format (Hydrographic Chart in raster format)
Amended to be usable with WGS 84 datum
latitude and Longitude
 Vector Charts
Intelligent form of digital geographic
Data. An object representation is
described by attributes and coordinates.
Compiled using raw hydro graphic data
or
by vectorizing raster image (Derived
V/chart).
Operator has control of the display
can turn on & off data as required
Allows different symbols & colours to
display the information
 Vector Data is Layered

1 2
Features:
5 Line
Points:
Connected

Lake 4
Detached
7
Area

6
Text

Spatial Data Analysis

30 30 N 30 30 N
040 40 E 040 50 E
Geographic data are separated
into themes, tiled for speed of
access and placed on CD-ROM Network Analysis
Interrogation Tell me about
all the objects or
features
at this location

23
 Vector Charts
Advantages
Chart info is in layers - allows for selective data display.
Chart data is seamless
Possibility of zooming without distortion
Can select safety Contours
Indications/alarms can be given.
Charted objects may be interrogated.
Provides additional information
Objects may be shown with different symbols.
File sizes are smaller
Chart can be easily rotated (C up)

Chart data may be shared with radar and ARPA.

 Vector Charts
Disadvantages
Technically more complex than raster charts.
More costly and take longer time to produce.
Worldwide coverage is still not achievable at present.
More difficult to ensure the quality and integrity of the
displayed vector data.
Requires Training.
 Raster and Vector Data Models

Real World
600
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 B G Trees
500
2 B G G
3 B
400
4 BG G Trees
Y-AXIS
5 B G G 300
6 B G BK House
7 B G 200
8 B B River
9 B 100
10 B 100 200 300 400 500 600
X-AXIS
Raster Representation Vector Representation
 DIGITAL SPATIAL DATA
Comparison

RASTER

VECTOR

Real World
 Raster vs. Vector Model
Shoreline

Water

Land

Vector Shoreline
 Derived Vector Charts

Not always produced officially

If not then No legal status ( may be used as a record )
Produced by companies other than Hydrographic
offices
Done by digitizing a paper chart (easy to digitize,
validated data does not require an assessment made
of the data)
Inaccuracy of paper chart will carry through
 Derived Vector Charts

Limitations
Chart Scale and min plottable distance
Positional accuracy of source data
Datum
Data reliability information
 Official
Electronic Charts

Two types:
Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC)
Raster Navigational Chart (RNC)
Reliability Paper chart
 Reliability ENC
Zones of
ECDIS Position Depth
Confidential Seafloor Coverage
Presentation Accuracy Accuracy
(ZOC)
Full area search
undertaken.
=0.5m+1%
A1 5m+5% Significant seafloor
of depth
depth features detected and
depth measured.
Zone of
Full area search
undertaken.
confidence is a
=1.0m+2%
A2 20 m Significant seafloor
of depth
features detected and layer within the
depth measured.
Full area search not Vector structure
achieved; uncharted
=1.0m+2% features, hazardous to
B 50 m
of depth surface navigation are
not expected but may
exist.

Full area search not

=2.0m+5% achieved; depth
C 500 m
of depth anomalies may be
expected.

Full area search not

worse than figure achieved; large depth
D
above anomalies may be
expected.

U
Unassessed, the quantity of bathymetric data
has not be assessed.

MDSC
No information is available for corresponding
sea area.
 Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC)
In official vector format
IHO chart data transfer Standard S-57 Ver.3.1.1
compliant
IHO Product Display Specification S-52
compliant
Issued under the authority of govt authorised
HO
 Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC)
ENCs are compiled & coded according to
international standards
ENCs are referred to WGS84
ENC content is the responsibility & liability of
the issuing Hydrographic Office
ENCs are regularly updated with official
update information distributed digitally.
Certified for use with ECDIS as replacements
for paper charts
 System Electronic Navigational
Chart (SENC)
Transformation of an ENC and updates by
ECDIS for display
Must conform to colour specifications
Can be thought of as the chart data as
displayed by the system such that all the other
software tools can work with the data
Charts may be provided as SENC information.
 ENC Chart Scale

08/03/2016 (c) Australian Maritime College 38

ENC - Navigational Purpose codes
1 Overview route planning and oceanic crossings

2 General navigating oceans, approaching coasts and route

planning
3 Coastal navigation along the coastline, either inshore or
offshore
4 Approach navigating the approaches to ports or major channels or
through intricate or congested areas
5 Harbour navigation within ports, harbours, bays, rivers and
canals and for anchorages, et cetera
6 Berthing detailed data to aid a vessel to berth
(there are no Category 6 charts produced by AHO)
AHO Google Earth App
 Highlighted Cell
AU442147
Title Tasmania Weymouth to Bridport

AU Produced by Australian Hydrographic

Office (See IHO S-62)
4 Usage Band Approach
42147 Unique identification number
Display Base
Display Base
coastline (high water)
own ship safety contour (selected
by mariner)(or default 30m)
isolated dangers or depths less
than the safety contour which lie
within the safe waters defined by
the safety contour:
isolated dangers which lie within
the safe water defined by the
safety contour, such as fixed
structures, overhead wires
etc.:(buoys and beacons)
scale, range, and north arrow
units of depth or height; and
display mode
Standard Display
Standard Display
Display Base +
drying line
buoys, beacons, other aids to
navigation and fixed structures
boundaries of fairways, channels
etc,
visual and radar conspicuous
features
prohibited and restricted areas
chart scale boundaries
indication of cautionary notes
ships routeing systems and ferry
routes
archipelagic sea lanes
All Layers
All other information
spot soundings
submarine cables and pipelines
details of all isolated dangers
details of aids to navigation
contents of cautionary notes
ENC edition date
Most recent chart update
number
Magnetic variation
Graticule
Place names
(Zone of Confidence)
 What is Official Vector Data?
Vector

CM93, TX97
S-57 format
or other format

Made by or on
behalf of an Made by a Made by a
official source private company private company
(and updated)

ENC Unofficial vector Unofficial vector

Approved as Not approved Not approved

primary source (can only be used as (can only be used as
for navigation an aid to navigation) an aid to navigation)
 Recap
Nautical charts
Carriage requirements
Definitions
Introduction to performance standards
Types of electronic charts
Data Reliability