Conference unifix::sailing

    I recently received from NOAA/NOS a prototype rasterscan chart on
    floppy. I copied the files onto disk and they are available for anyone
    to use. See:

    gqa22::"/usr/users/sears/PUBLIC/*"	! 25.237 (GQA22) DECnet
					! 16.123.192.181 GQA22.mlo.dec.com

    The show.exe program displays the chart on a pc (use a full DOS
    window) and when you press the "Insert" button, it creates a .tif file
    that can be viewed with XV.

    Copy the files to a PC directory and type SHOW 12214.NOS. The higher
    your screen resolution the better the look. You can zoom all the way
    out and hit Insert to get the whole thing in a .tif file. Use the
    arrows for screen navigation. Use Prev for zoom out and Next for zoom
    in. 

    The read.me file describes the project they are implementing which
    basically is to digitize the charts and rely on third parties to
    provide the sexy software (show.exe is NOT sexy) and chart packaging.
    The prototype chart is 12214 or the lower Chessapeke area. They fit the
    whole thing along with all the files in the directory on 2 floppies. I
    have the .NOS file format and can if necessary make a copy of it.

    This is the technology that Laserplot and Maptech have had for a few
    years for anyone who has not seen it. From conversations at Laserplot,
    commercial captians are reluctant to use it at first, but after a
    couple of months refuse to let the system out of their bridgehouse. The
    existing systems are tied into GPS, gyro, etc, and are amazing to watch
    in action.

    The raster stuff makes the CMAP and other first generation vector
    charts look like toys.

    You still need to have and know how to use the paper charts,
    traditional plotting aids and common sense, but if you are willing to
    have it die at any time without los of saftey, it's the cat's meow. I
    predict that in 3-4 years a color display system with internal GPS, CD
    player, and a CD of charts will be under $3,000.

    Anyway, take a look at the dataset. It would make a great screen
    wallpaper.

    paul

    Paul,
    
    	I copied all the stuff over but all it does it fall over and die. 
    No real useful errors at all, I used the standard procedure that has
    worked many times in the past.  I looks through the files and cannot
    see any memory requirements but suspect that may be part of the
    problems.
    
    
    Forrest

    Works fine for me.   I ran it on a Jenson, so it's hard to
    tell what resources were really available to the MSDOS
    process.

    You need to copy in binary mode, I've attached a command file
    for VMS users.    This copies everyting in binary mode,
    so if you then do an image/binary download to a PC, you'll
    have the right file attributes.  (On VMS though, the text
    files will be fixed-512, and not very useful.  -- If you're
    a sadist, just jam the record attributes to stream-lf
    and you'll be on your way...)

    Are more charts available?  Possibly ftp'able from somewhere?

    Thanks for making this available

	- Lee


$ exchange/net/transfer_mode=block/log gqa22::"/usr/users/sears/PUBLIC/12214.doc"	12214.doc
$ exchange/net/transfer_mode=block/log gqa22::"/usr/users/sears/PUBLIC/12214.nos"	12214.nos
$ exchange/net/transfer_mode=block/log gqa22::"/usr/users/sears/PUBLIC/egavga.bgi"	egavga.bgi
$ exchange/net/transfer_mode=block/log gqa22::"/usr/users/sears/PUBLIC/install.bat"	install.bat
$ exchange/net/transfer_mode=block/log gqa22::"/usr/users/sears/PUBLIC/log.dat"	log.dat
$ exchange/net/transfer_mode=block/log gqa22::"/usr/users/sears/PUBLIC/nos.hlp"	nos.hlp
$ exchange/net/transfer_mode=block/log gqa22::"/usr/users/sears/PUBLIC/original.exe"	original.exe
$ exchange/net/transfer_mode=block/log gqa22::"/usr/users/sears/PUBLIC/read.me"	read.me
$ exchange/net/transfer_mode=block/log gqa22::"/usr/users/sears/PUBLIC/show.exe"	show.exe
$ exchange/net/transfer_mode=block/log gqa22::"/usr/users/sears/PUBLIC/view.exe"	view.exe

    
    	I copied it in Binary mode the files start but die with not error 
    message.
    
    
    Forrest

    .... and one day you buy an Alpha AXP from Kubota and you can
    sail virtualy around Cape Horn without getting wet, and when you had
    enough, you just switch off the system....
    
    I like paper charts. You can create your own islands (coffie mug),
    scrible on it etc. etc.
    
    Peter 

    What can be done with the .tif file?

>    What can be done with the .tif file?

    You can use XV to display it, navigate rather crudely around it, and
    post the image as your X root image (wallpaper in PC speak). Many PC
    programs can read TIF files and convert them to BMP which then can be
    used as PC wallpaper (see main/setup/desktop).

    XV is available in many places. Maybe another reader knows the
    "official" location of VMS and OSF/1 XV? For an OSF/1 version, try
    avalon::"/usr/user9/sears/bin/alpha_bin/xv".

    Gee, all it does is tell me to insert the diskette labelled "Install."
    
    When I look at the install.bat file, it turns out that it is looking
    for inst.exe, which isn't one of the files that came over using the
    .com created with the commands in one of the previous replies.
    

    I was rather terse in the instructions. Maybe this will help more.

    After copying the files over to your PC (all in image mode, and i am no
    authority on how to do that; i only know what works here), you can
    display the one chart by CD'ing to the directory in which you
    placed the files and then doing a "SHOW 12214.nos" command.

    The read.me file describes the overall operation.

    Note that the files have already been "installed" from the distribution
    floppy to the PC and then copied from the PC to the directory mentioned
    in note .1, so you don't have to do an install.

    good luck
    paul

    Thanks. Wherever that is, there are some really nice looking dive sites
    on it. <g>
    
    John H-C

    Works but it's   R E A L L Y  S L O W   on a 386 PC.  When the
    Pentium/ALPHA notebooks fall in price to the level of the Chartkits,
    this will definitely be useful technology.  Of course, the notebook
    should have a 19"+ screen for the best viewing.
    
    In the meanwhile, it does make nice wallpaper.
    
    - gene

    The show.exe program is from NOAA and they do not pretend that it is
    fast, only a demonstration of concept.

    There are going to be two types of electronic chart data ECDIS-1 and
    ECDIS-3. I thing the ECDIS-3 is also called the RNCI (Raster Nautical
    Chart Image). The -1 format is vector, and the -3 format is raster.
    Their intention is to have the complete NOS catalog available in
    ECDIS-3 format in 3 years. I think it is a goal to have widespread
    ECDIS-1 support over a longer period and with less coverage.

    ECDIS-3 datasets are being digitized from the original films NOS uses
    to print the charts. They are being provided at 254 dpi but are being
    digitized at 3 or 4 x 254 dpi.

    The ECDIS-1 datasets, when available, will be a smart vector format
    wherin each chart feature will have a desriptor. For example, a bouy
    will have a lat/lon, appearance, id, etc to describe it. This
    for mat is similar to the C-map format.

    NOS is working with private third parties to develop and market the
    datasets and display software. Although i'm not sure, private parties
    (i.e. us) should be able to get the raw data from NOS, but they may
    just point users to the third parties.

    There are two existing providers of raster format electronic charts and
    software: Maptech and Laserplot. Maptech is going after the low end,
    and Lasperplot is trying to get the high end.
    
    Maptech advertizes heavily a product for $290 for your windows PC that
    includes nav software, a passive NEMA interface for laptops, and one
    chart. It seems like a good deal and looks pretty neat on paper. Just
    pick up any sailing mag or Ocean Navigator to see a copy of the ad.

    Laserplot was the first to develop the technology and they have the
    arrows in their back to prove it. Back in the mid eighties when CD's
    were just starting to take off for music, they introduced a system
    coposed of a 286 class CPU, 9" CRT, cd reader, software, and NMEA
    interface. It sold for about $12k with chart CD's going for about $700
    to $1000. They digitize their own charts and go over each one with a
    touch up program to correct any possible digitization noise. The system
    performs quite well given that it is 286 based. They use a propriatary
    CD format, compression algorithms, and software to display the charts.
    Their software is very sophisticated, at least for the time, and does
    everything including plot a SAR path for a MOB, including compensation
    for the set and drift of the MOB. They have a new system now in the
    $5-8k range. Their main market is commercial shipping. Tugs, Coast
    Guards, navies, etc. I applied for a job there couple of years ago;
    they said it would require short stints at sea working with users on
    the bridges of tugs and freighters, however it fell through. I almost
    cried.


    I am going to get on NOS's mailing list and i'll keep this note
    updated.

    If anyone has tried the Maptech system (or any other chart display
    system) could they post a review of it?    

    paul