NOAA Custom Chart application updates

NOAA's National Ocean Service sent this bulletin at 09/19/2023 10:04 AM EDT

September 19, 2023

Contact:
Coast Survey Communications
coastsurveycommunications@noaa.gov

 

 

NOAA Emblem and text

 

NOAA Custom Chart application updates
New enhancements applied to the nautical chart generating service

NOAA Custom Chart is a web-based application that can be used to generate a paper nautical chart. The nautical charts generated from this application are created directly from the latest official data available within NOAA’s electronic navigational charts (NOAA ENC®). The output of the application is a geospatially referenced portable document format (PDF) file, which is intended to augment navigation using an actual NOAA ENC. They can also be used as a planning tool or to enhance overall situational awareness. Custom chart PDFs created for letter or legal-size paper can be printed on a home printer. PDFs for large format charts may be sent to one of these companies for plotting or printed through other commercial print shops. 

NOAA is actively making improvements to the NOAA Custom Chart application and just released several updates for the application. These changes are reflected in the Nautical Chart Display Service and are summarized below.

  • Soundings with a value of zero are now displayed as one-half-foot or one-twelfth-fathom values
  • Linear cables and pipelines and their respective areas are now designated with paper chart symbols 
  • Depth contour labels with a value of zero (low water line) are removed
  • Aids to navigation labels are now formatted similarly to a paper chart 
  • Landmark symbols are now designated with paper chart symbols and labels
  • Navigable and non-navigable range lines are now designated with paper chart symbols
  • Range light characteristics display all lights associated with the structure and reflect chosen units for heights 
  • Foul area symbols and labels are now designated with paper chart symbols
  • Recommended courses on the Great Lakes and the Intracoastal Waterway are now designated with paper chart symbols 
  • Water turbulence areas are now designated with paper chart symbols

NOAA is interested in hearing about users’ experiences and getting suggestions for additional enhancements. You can provide your input through Coast Survey’s online ASSIST customer feedback form.

NOAA Office of Coast Survey is the nation's nautical chartmaker. Originally formed by President Thomas Jefferson in 1807, Coast Survey updates charts, surveys the coastal seafloor, responds to maritime emergencies, and searches for underwater obstructions that pose a danger to navigation.

 

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