Label : cartography

Raster Charts… the comeback [Update]

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[Update 26 August 2018]

I was for many years a strong advocate for vector maps. compact, a low numerical weight, easy to update, they are ideal for use on our mobile devices.

According to the good old adage that only fools don't change opinion, recent technical developments hardware and software, added to maritime events of recent years, led me to reflect on the accuracy of my opinion. Trained in the old school of safety in Glénans Sailing School, the only bias I have to authorize me to express is the safeguarding of human life at sea. This may cause a little "old goatee" for some, but I assume. Hang in there, This is gonna be long.

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Navionics charts trade policy [Update-5]

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Trade policy for Navionics charts purchased on the website x - traverse.com has - again - been reviewed in recent weeks, at the same time as the 'My Account' page has changed. These changes are unfortunately not all positive.

The renewal of the charts purchased was proposed for two years at a price of half of the initial purchase price, what had seemed a reasonable offer. This offer is gone for mobile media, and is maintained only for MacENC and applications for PC. This means that users who want to keep their charts updated beyond the first year must renew their chart folder at the initial purchase price. I find this totally counterproductive, as this will encourage many users of this excellent mapping not to renew their files and use them in the State for several years.

[Update 25/08/2014] Changes in the site X-Traverse Read more …

Electronic charts : scales and overscale [Update]

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A recent email exchange with a Mediterranean user drew my attention to a specific aspect of electronic charting : zoom limitation of a chart. ENC vector charts (¹) are classified in 6 categories depending scale : smallest scales less than 1:1.500.000 for global views to largest scale up to 1:4.000 for harbours and anchorages. (²).

Marine charts international classification

In most cases, ENC S-57 (¹) official charts the most detailed have a scale about 1:4000, thus 1 cm on the chart (screen view) represent 40 meters on the ground. With paper chart, the only way to get more details is… to use a a magnifying glass, that provides, as we know, in no case more accuracy. But it is quite otherwise for electronics charts.

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iSailor 1.6.0 relooks the user interface

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Since 14 February iSailor came up with a new interface. Little change for charting, but a completely redesigned user interface and enhanced with new features. In addition, the position can be obtained in different ways : either device location services (Built-in GPS with your iPad / iPhone), either GPS of AIS transponder if you are provided. Soon be added the board GPS via WiFi. Read more …

Navionics Boating : Italian at the top of business [Update]

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How make the new with the old ? Navionics knows ! After publishing geographic areas including a navigation application, now here is an application, but without charting. Italian are too much !

Navionics Boating complements, since January 2014, the collection of applications Marine (iPhone) up to Marine HD (iPad ). Also available as standard version for iPhone and HD for iPad, Navionics Boating has the same version number 6.0 than others. Navionics point, on dedicated website page its website, that Navionics "Boating" does not replace Navionics "Marine" which will continue to be updated. However, it is permissible to ask for how long, because this new application provides a very bad surprise. Read more …

British vector charts with NavLink

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navlinkEarly this year 2014 is decidedly fertile in new navigation applications. After NavPlay up to Navionics Boating, this is NavLink UK edited by Digital Yacht. We know well that British company, located in Bristol, for these many WiFi devices connecting instruments, AIS transceivers, aso., regularly mentioned on this blog. But provide a comprehensive navigation application is a real surprise.

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Charting, the game of 7 errors

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A recent Thread on the Hisse Et Oh forum, I salute by the way, I challenged the accuracy of the chart data provided on the electronic charts. The issue concerns the fact that, in some location, existing information on the Navionics Marine HD application, or on some chartplotters, are missing on Navionics charts available on the website x-traverse.com used with iNavX (and MacENC). Quote :

"Then the question is : Is there a difference between the carto 46XG and the carto Europe or is the difference due to the app that turns the cards. "

Damned ! It seemed useful to make comparisons closing electronic charts from various sources. As far as I know particularly well geographic location used in example, since it is approaching the harbor of Concarneau, near the beacon tower Le Cochon, passage I borrowed hundreds of times over the years I was working with Glenans Nautical Centre. Read more …

SEAiq professional navigation on iPad

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SEAiqA few days before going on a long trip from Toulon to Noumea, My friend Christophe Mahé introduced me to this application that I had gone unnoticed. I sincerely thank him ! As it is never too late to do, some exchanges with the developer helped me install this application on my iPad with all its options. SEAiq was posted on the AppStore in April 2012. Its developer, Mark Hayden, is a Californian computer engineer living a good part of his time with his family or alone around the world aboard his Super Maramu, happy man.

SEAiq Open (¹) is the only application on iPad / iPhone for using vector charts ENC IHO official standards S-52, S-57 up to S-63. With information database included in these charts, and update systems , SEAiq transforms the iPad into a true ECDIS (²) professionnal. Read more …