MODERN CHARTING REQUIREMENTS FOR MARINE NAVIGATION AND THE NATIONAL ECONOMY

Capt. Lorne Taylor

Peer Reviewed

Abstract:	Until recent times, a nautical chart was constructed primarily to serve the needs of maritime navigation for large commercial and military ships operations. The purpose of today's nautical chart must be broadened to provide for and promote the growth of various segments of the National economy as well as respond to the needs of technological developments. The proper understanding and presentation of hydrographic data is invaluable to such commercial interests as fishing, transportation, underwater mineral re- source development and to that segment of the economy catering to recreational boating and sport fishing. "Space" and "oceanographic" programs, developments to ship design, and the growth in recreational boating all contribute to the changing needs affecting the format and design of nautical chart presentations. A basic requirement of a nautical chart is to satisfy safety requirements for marine navigation by providing the navigator with the proper information to enable him to make the right decision at the righ time. Today's chart producers must be able to anticipate these diverse needs and make them available to the user in the best graphic form. Any program aimed at improving the charts must take into account the navigator's pont of view. User evaluation surveys through contracts with private organizations, boat show participation, and questionnaires to commercial and recreational boating interests are utilized by the Coast and Geodetic Survey to collect information on the needs of the navigator in order to determine what is required. These requirements must be evaluated and meshed with cartographic feasibility, economic and technical trends and finally, priority as determined by available resources.
Published in:	NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation, Volume 13, Number 1
Pages:	2 - 11
Cite this article:	Taylor, Capt. Lorne, "MODERN CHARTING REQUIREMENTS FOR MARINE NAVIGATION AND THE NATIONAL ECONOMY", NAVIGATION: Journal of The Institute of Navigation, Vol. 13, No. 1, Spring 1966, pp. 2-11.
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