1 ICE ON ECDIS Personal views of Mike Eaton ( ex-mariner, involved in electronic charts since 1982) These slides deal with ECDIS used for route monitoring in confined waters.

2 Introduction n Ice information is no use until the mariner can view it in the context of all the info critical to safe navigation. This includes: - own ship (DGPS, radar) - safe water (minimal chart) - other ships ( AIS, ARPA) - other info (ice, currents, weather, VTS) –

3 Display design n The display must be clear, uncluttered and unambiguous in meaning: F design from mariner’s view, for navigation safety F design for worst conditions (sun on ice / dark night) F max contrast between symbol and background F code vital info by shape and colour F prominence of symbol in proportion to importance F standard conventional symbols for instant recognition F minimum number of simple symbols F colour coding to identify source of info F keep software simple (speed draw and avoid crashes)

4 Suggestions re new symbols on ECDIS u Follow general principles, particularly: as few new symbols as possible, new symbols as simple as possible, prominence proportional to overall importance to safety of navigation. u Use established symbols, but consider different usage on ECDIS. Avoid duplicating existing ECDIS symbols. u Test symbology, on ECDIS simulator, and at sea if possible. u Raw image overlays or cluttering patterns need ‘single action remove’ capability (as radar image). u Minimise load on ECDIS processor ( to speed draw and reduce risk of software crash). Coding similar to S-57 helps. n How it relates to your audience

5 ECDIS in the future n Opinion : the bridge will need a single ‘Navigation Display’ showing all info. immediately critical to safe navigation: clear, unambiguous, uncluttered - a formidable requirement ! n Approaches might include: F Temporary detailed overlays: but mariners prefer not to manipulate the display in critical situations. F Distilled minimum of critical info shown all the time: - needs formidable processing flexibility - a kindly user interface will be essential.

6 Administrative status of ECDIS n Evidently, ECDIS is just beginning. Many interests need to be coordinated (and the least represented is the mariner). Here is the present status: u IMO: ECDIS is no longer on the work list. Performance std. covers chart; chartwork; radar; “other nav. info ”. u IHO: data & display specs ‘frozen’, with small thaws. ‘MIO’ WG on ice, currents etc. Dormant VTS proposal. u IEC: performance test specs. plus chartwork, radar, AIS symbols. ‘Frozen,’ with current small thaw. n Without IMO there is no overall coordinating body

7 p.s. - Consider this ice symbology suggestion n For route planning, overlay an recognised ice plot, such as the WMO symbology. n For route monitoring, merge in a clear pattern of horizontal grey lines which causes minimal clutter (saved for ice), showing the ice situation as it applies to own ship. Uses three degrees of ice hazard: 1. no hazard to navigation, 2. navigate with caution, 3. no go. For this to be feasible : need detailed ice info that is frequently updated, need software to convert the data into above three degrees of hazard.

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