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I don't know how (or if) the data gets to the charting organizations, but
the United States Power Squadron regularly provides updates to the positions
of navaids and survey markers.

Roger

----- Original Message -----
From  "Philip OUVRY" 
To: 
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2000 7:08 PM
Subject: [NAV-L] Updating of Electronic Charts


> There is a problem which has been bugging me for sometime now.   Paper
charts
> have been developed into raster electronic charts and will ultimately
become
> vector electronic charts.   With a vector chart there can be up to 40
layers of
> information.   The navigational information thereon can be presented and
> interpreted in a multitude of ways.
>
> However close examination of paper charts often shows large areas marked,
for
> example,  or .   Essentially
the
> data on which the chart is based is often sketchy or non-existent.
>
> Most national hydrographic authorities have few resources available to
conduct
> surveys of non-essential areas.   In the United Kingdom the Royal
Institute of
> Navigation encouraged Yacht Clubs and local groups to conduct  
> which were detailed surveys of local navigable creeks and anchorages for
which
> no accurate charts existed.   However their results were not accepted for
> inclusion on nationally available charts.
>
> The same problem exists for sailing directions or pilots.
>
> With GPS and electronic charts the temptation will be to explore more
small
> estuaries and potential anchorages.   It makes sense that every time a new
place
> is explored by a conscientious navigator, his results should be entered in
a
> database from which, either on a national or local basis, an increasingly
> accurate series of electronic charts can be produced.   These could be
simply
> downloaded onto a navigators onboard computer.   They could also be
supported by
> a  service.
>
> In the United Kingdom the Cruising Association produce a Handbook which is
> continually updated by the 6000 members and regularly reprinted.   It
would seem
> to be a good idea for all yacht clubs, cruising associations and
long-distance
> navigators to gather navigational data which could be fed into a central
> database from which more detailed and accurate electronic charts could be
> produced.
>
> Has anybody any comments?
>
> Philip Ouvry
>

   

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