We would like to inform the viewers that Mr. Satish Chandra Kukreti, who has served National Hydrographic Office, Dehradun, INDIA for over 35 years as a Cartographer has agreed to contribute his valuable articles and suggestions to this blog. We would like to thank him in this regard.
The Nautical Cartography is out of one subject with in the cartographic methodology, as cartographer has to expertise himself out of the various options such as topography, Cadastral, preparation of various maps, Atlases etc.
The SOLAS (Safety of life at Sea) convention provides guide line to Chart producer nations so that all the information for the safety of navigator and equipments must be charted as per IHO publications.
The Nautical Cartography is based on set of rules laid down by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) for which the following documents are to be consulted and the Nautical Cartographer must have the deep knowledge. Keeping in mind the Nautical chart prepared by specific country are being used for safe navigation in there waters by navigator of the world as there ship navigate in water of the Chart Producer Nations. The INERNATIONAL charts are prepared according to set of rules with uniform zymology to avoid language problem. You might be aware that the symbol for driving a vehicle is uniform throughout the world so that citizen of any country can drive his vehicle in other county.
The S4- IHO Chart Specifications provides all information and set of specifications for preparation of chart in respect of symbols, line weight, size, colour, scale of chart, and compilation methods so that the uniformality can be maintained by coastal states of the world.
INT1 - Symbols and Abbreviation used on Nautical charts (including National symbols used by the particular national.
Sailing Directions – Provides detailed textual information for the particular area, which cannot be charted on a nautical chart.
Tidal and Tidal current Information.
Magnetic variation and annual change information for a epoch (five years).
The above publication helps to prepare a Electronic chart (ENC) using various S-57 documents so that The ECDIS (Electronic chart display and Information system) can display charts manufactured by any company.
Satish Chandra Kukreti
