(IBS) / Electronic Charts

Capt. Taner ALBAYRAK

ECDIS
Electronic Chart Display
and Information
Systems

Objectives:
1. Become familiar with the principal types of
electronic charts.
2. Understand the difference between an ECDIS
and an ECS.
3. Understand the different Electronic Chart
formats and their advantages and
disadvantages.

Objectives:
4. Become familiar with the display characteristics of
an ECDIS System.
5. Understand the limits of an ECDIS based on the
performance limits of sensors.
6. Understand the risk of over reliance on an ECDIS
System.

Background
Electronic databases, operating systems,
computer technology and the widespread
deployment of Digital technology has made it
possible to employ electronic charts at sea.
In addition, the advent of continuous and
automated positioning systems (such as GPS),
have made it possible to take maximum
advantage of electronic charting.

The benefits of the integrated system

GPS and chart data in digital format
include:
- Real time position .
- Automated plotting of the navigation.
- Reduce Manning
- Minimizing Human error .
- Alert to navigation dangers.
- dramatically increase awareness in low
visibility.

Electronic Charting Systems

These advances in technology have made it
possible to replace the traditional paper
charts with Electronic Charting Systems.
All electronic charting systems fall into two
categories. The two categories are:
ECDIS (Electronic Charting and Display System)
and ECS (Electronic Charting System).

Electronic Chart Display & Information

System (ECDIS)
means a navigation information system which,
with adequate back-up arrangements, can be
accepted as complying with the up-to-date chart
requirements by regulation V/20 of the 1974
SOLAS Convention, by displaying selected
information from a system navigational chart
(SENC) with positional information from
navigation sensors to assist the mariner in route
planning and route monitoring, and by displaying
additional navigation-related information if
required.
Sec. 2.1 IMO PS

And that means????

The short explanation: An ECDIS is a

system that is able to display electronic

chart information with automatic position
updates, contains a built in redundancy that
will assist the mariner in all aspects of
Navigation. It is the legal equivalent of a
paper chart.

It is Not an ECDIS if..

Equipment is not legally approved.
Does not have adequate electronic chart
coverage.
Does not have chart updating capability.
Even though an ECS may perform many of the
same functions as an ECDIS, it is not the
legal equivalent of an ECDIS. It may only
be used for situational awareness.

What makes up an ECDIS or ECS?

1. Position inputs (GPS, DGPS, LORAN, Radar,
gyro, fathometer, etc.)

2. Electronic Navigation Charts (ENC)

3. System Electronic Navigation Charts (SENC)

ECDIS COMPONENTS
Color Display

SPD
CSE
XTD

Nav Sensors
(GPS, LORAN)

SENC

Radar/ARPA

Gyrocompass

Computer

AIS

Depthsounder

ENC

Water level
Currents
Ice info

Updates

Electronic Navigational Chart

(ENC)
Is the database, standardized as to content,
structure and format, issued for use with ECDIS
on the authority of government-authorized
hydrographic offices. The ENC contains all the
chart information necessary for safe navigation,
and may contain supplementary information in
addition to that contained in the paper chart (e.g.,
sailing directions) which may be considered
necessary for safe navigation.
Sec. 2.2, IMO PS

So What?
An ENC is a database, not a chart as
you think of it. As such, there are:
different types of EC data
various formats
differences in the level of content

System ENC (SENC)

Is the database resulting from the transformation
of the ENC by ECDIS for appropriate use, updates
to the ENC by appropriate means, and other data
added by the mariner. It is this database that is
actually accessed by ECDIS for the display
generation and other navigational functions, and is
the equivalent of an up-to-date paper chart. The
SENC may also contain information from other
sources.
Sec. 2.3, IMO PS

System Electronic Navigational Chart (SENC)

Data

ENC
Updates
#1

ENC

#1
#2
+

#3
IHO S-57

SENC

+
+

#2

Display

Software

#3

SENC 1
SENC 2
SENC 3

Performed in ECDIS

IHO S-52 Colors & Symbols

Next

Not all charts are equal.

Many different formats exist for electronic charts.
The two major types are vector based and raster
charts.
Raster charts are scanned paper charts.
Most vector charts are digitized paper charts,
thereby inheriting any errors (and possibly
introducing some!)
Countries are producing unique digital charts
based on their interpretation of IHO standards.

C-MAP

ENC

ARCS

Transas

DNC

Navionics

BSB

The Types of EC Formats are:

Raster and Vector

Digital Chart Formats

NIMA
Digital Nautical
Chart (DNC)

NOAA
Raster Nautical
Chart (RNC)

IHO S-57
Electronic
Navigational Chart
(ENC)

The Basic Difference

Raster charts are simply bitmap images
created by scanning a paper chart
Vector charts portray charted features as
points, lines, or areas with amplifying
information (attributes) found in an
associated database

Raster Charts
A set of colored pixels
representing chart
information as a picture
on computer screen
Simply an array of pixels
arranged in rows and
columns
Pixels are color coded, but
do not represent features
explicitly

The Appeal of Raster

Looks like a paper chart
(appeals to traditionalists)
Cheap and easy to produce
(scan existing paper chart)
Runs easily on PC

World-wide availability

Vector Charts: More detail

A set of accurately
positioned lines (vectors),
points and areas, with
associated attributes (e.g.
shoreline, buoy - red)
organized in a database
accessed by clicking on
displayed symbol

Paradigm Shift
Looks different from a
paper chart
Underlying database allows
queries and layer selection
Zooming reveals detail
Complex, expensive, and
time-consuming to produce
Needs more powerful
computer and expensive
display to meet IHO/DoD
requirements

USN Approach is to use NIMAs Digital

Nautical Chart (DNC), a vector based format.

Some Other Examples...

Raster Chart

ECDIS Workspace (Raster Chart)

IMO/IHO
Compliant
Display

DNC with Base data only

showing (Less clutter)

Standard Display with Depth Contours

The user defines what features

are necessary!!!

Standard Display with Spot Soundings

DNC with User defined Color

All Features

NOAA BSB Vector Chart

Combined BSB and DNC display

The Advantages of Vector Charts

Information on Chart can be linked to
specific points. (Click on light and you can
retrieve more info, like a picture of the
light)
Allows the user to display the information
that is necessary for the ships current
mission.

Raster Concerns
High scan resolution required for detailed
chart.lots of CPU memory required and
slower refresh rates.
Zooming degrades quality.
Mixed pixelsis it water or land?

Shoreline

Raster Model

Water
Land

Vector Shoreline

The State of Raster Systems

Here to staymost popular chart format
Expanded capabilities:
Quilting

Multiple raster charts at multiple scales are provided

RCDS/ECS system selects largest scale chart available
Chart boundaries are zoomed to same scale, and made as
seamless possible

Overlays
RNC provides the basic backdrop chart layer
Vector overlays - route planning and recorded track histories
(Digital) radar overlays can be displayed

Ancillary information
Tides, currents

Radar Overlay (Raster)

Visual Bearing LOP Fix

Radar Range LOP Fix

Piloting Guidance
Automatically calculates:
cross-track error
recommended course to
steer accounting for
set/drift
nearest hazard
next navigation aid
depth
distance and time to turn

Military standard navigation report

Tabular turnpoint solution data

Piloting Guidance Turn Bearings

Tide and Current Information

Displayed on the chart

and graphically in
pop-up windows.

Collision Avoidance

Litton Sperry VMS

ECDIS-N system
Part of Smart-Ship and Smart Gator
Integrated Bridge Systems (IBS)
Supports all electronic chart types.
Equipped with voyage planning, radar
overlay, automatic navigation and track
keeping system, voyage data recorder, and
software that estimates future position.

Radar Overlay

Future Position Estimate

The Risks of ECDIS

ECDIS is only a tool that helps a mariner
safely and effectively navigate a ship.
It is not the end-all be-all to ship navigation.
One of the biggest risks with the transition
to ECDIS is an over reliance in the
information provided

Some things to consider

Poor GPS performance

DGPS used/not used
ECDIS malfunction
installation setup
ENC compilation errors (e.g., datums)
chart (errors, omissions, out-dated)
survey errors
human error