1. From Pen and Ink Charts to ENC-First: Deriving Raster Products
by Christie Ence
US Hydro 2019
Biloxi, MS
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Good morning
My name is Christie Ence
I am a cartographer in the Marine Chart Division, Cartographic Support Branch
This morning, I am going to talk about approximating paper and raster charts using S-57 electronic chart data

2. NOAA Navigational Chart Products
NOAA has three primary navigational chart products:
Paper charts
Have been around in some form since the beginning of maritime history
RNCs
Digital raster version of a paper chart meant to be viewed on a computer or chart display screen
ENCs
Vector chart data intended for use on an ECDIS display
Use standardized, but simplified vector chart symbology
Use the S-57 international hydrographic data transfer standard
Paper Charts
Raster Navigational
Charts (RNCs)
Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs)
Image Credits: NOAA

3. Nautical Information System (NIS)
Central multiuser geodatabase containing all nautical chart data
Supported through Esri’s ArcGIS: Maritime Extension
All ENC products are maintained and published through the NIS
Organized as a series of themed point, line, and area feature classes
S-57 object classes stored as domain encoded Feature Class Subtypes
AidsToNavigationP
1 BCNCAR_BeaconCardinal
5 BCNISD_BeaconIsolatedDanger
10 BCNLAT_BeaconLateral
15 BCNSAW_BeaconSafeWater ⋮
CoastlineL
1 COALNE_Coastline
5 SLCONS_ShorelineConstruction
DepthsA
1 DEPARE_DepthArea
5 DRGARE_DredgedArea
10 SWPARE_SweptArea
15 UNSARE_UnsurveyedArea
RNC
Paper
The Nautical Information System or NIS
Central database that contains all nautical chart data
It is supported through Esri’s ArcGIS Maritime Extension
All S-57 object classes are sorted into themed point, line, and area feature classes within the NIS
One of the greatest benefits of having a centralized database is: the ability to derive ALL products from the same place!
⋯ ⋯ ⋯
NIS
ENC
Nautical Chart System II - NCSII

4. Chart Finishing Default Geometry Raw Symbology
Here is a breakdown of the rasterization process:
The user runs a series of tools to replicate the look of a paper or raster chart
The first image is default geometry that ArcMap applies to all data
The second image is after the Calculate Symbology tool is run

5. Chart Finishing Raw Annotation Finished Product
The next image here is how the chart looks after annotation is applied
And finally, the finished rasterized product.
I have more examples with me if anyone wants a closer, and longer look offline
Raw Annotation
Finished Product

6. Challenges
OBJECT
SLCONS (shoreline construction)
CATSLC
4 (pier (jetty))
CONDTN
2 (ruined)
WATLEV
3 (always under water/submerged)
Features are not always encoded consistently (or correctly) in the NIS
Some attribution necessary to drive symbology is not mandatory in S-57
Chart finishing process requires cartographic knowledge and software familiarity
The entire purpose of creating chart products from a central database is to improve efficiency in chart maintenance
But, there are some known challenges:
The software depends on a feature’s encoding to be consistent and correct
Some symbol-determining attributes are optional in S-57, and are usually not populated
And finally, depending on the skillset of the cartographer, a template can take anywhere from a few days to a several weeks to complete
OBJECT
SLCONS (shoreline construction)
CATSLC
4 (pier (jetty))
CONDTN
<null>
WATLEV
3 (always under water/submerged)

7. Planned Course
Improve NIS encoding correctness, completeness, and consistency
Encourage automation-friendly cartographic specifications
Enhance ArcMap configuration to reduce or eliminate the need for human intervention
To improve the chart template user experience, several things need to happen:
We must continue to improve the quality of the NIS encoding to ensure the correct symbol and label is displayed on the chart template product
We must investigate automation-friendly alternatives to existing cartographic policy
Discuss having an expanded paper color palette
Update label placement rules to allow more flexibility
Determine in-scale symbol and label hierarchies
We can then modify the ArcMap configuration to produce fit-for-use, print-ready chart products ‘on-the-fly’

8. Thank you!
As a reminder, I do have more examples if you are interested in seeing more offline.