Preferred Chart Format ?

[PDA1]

Do you use a Raster chart or Vector charts the most?

I find that vector charts take too much time to refresh. Raster are fast.

I don't know if the refresh speed issue can be solved- my machine is 10 years old.

[Cavalier]

Hi PDA1,

Welcome to CruisersForums.

With your machine being 10 years old, i'm assuming it might not handle floating-point anywhere near as well as integer math. Vector math normally involves floating point, and display of raster normally uses straight integer.

I remember that 10 years ago or so, the cheaper AMD processors where very prevailant - they were cheap (in comparison to Intel) as they had a very good integer spped but lousy floating point - that's why back then, Intel's processors always faired better in 3D tests (also vector math: much division required).

Have you tried your charts on someone else's machine (i.e. a newer machine) as a test?

Phil

[barnakiel]

Well this depends on what is available or what is best for any given area.

I tend to use vector before raster. Alas, in many areas raster charts are far more detailed so then I will use rasters.

So here there is no preference.

b.

[PDA1]

I'll try it on another one of my computers which is only 3 years old and let you know.

[fgd3]

Given the choice I prefer raster charts. They display much faster. More important, cartographers have worked for decades deciding what information you will need at hand when you look at a feature on the chart. That's why raster charts show the vertical clearance of a bridge and the depth of a wreck, for example. With vector charts there are many features where you have to do an object query to get the information you need.

Vector charts were touted early on as offering the advantage that the chart plotter could be cognizant of the depths along your route. If you entered the draft of your vessel the program could warn you if you had plotted a route that was dangerous. Unfortunately, that feature hasn't been implemented in OpenCPN or any other ECDIS that I've seen. Until it is implemented the only reason to use vector charts in preference to raster charts is that raster charts are unavailable for the region you are navigating.

Fabbian

[tcutler]

So the NOAA ENC (vector) charts won't display bridge clearances in OpenCPN?

I just got started with OpenCPN and I've been scratching my head over how to see bridge clearances in the US East Coast ENC charts I've downloaded so far.

Please let me know if there is some way to see them, that I'm missing.

Thanks!

[P_Dub]

Tcutler, right click on the bridge and you will have a window opening look at the bridge. You will have all the informations in the opening window.
Good luck.
P_dub

[tcutler]

Thanks! That works.

I had tried that, but I apparently hadn't managed to right-click directly on the bridge itself.

--
Tim

[bobconnie]

This is one of the Main reasons I still prefer Paper Charts !! LOL

[zeehag]

paper charts rock.....

[sdowney717]

Originally Posted by tcutler

Thanks! That works.

I had tried that, but I apparently hadn't managed to right-click directly on the bridge itself.

--
Tim

I still dont see any heights mentioned for the CBB tunnel complex?
I right click the bridge then click on bridge and that is all it says some info.
So no height info due to people wont go under this part or what?

[hwecken]

Originally Posted by sdowney717

I still dont see any heights mentioned for the CBB tunnel complex?
I right click the bridge then click on bridge and that is all it says some info.
So no height info due to people wont go under this part or what?

Click on bridge where the openings are and you will find the information about clearence

[P_Dub]

Th depth over the tunnel in the channel is 59.7 feet on the ENC chart.
Bye

[P_Dub]

I realise there is 2 channels with different depths and horizontal clearance and both are OK on the ENC. Click on each one and it will give you the informations. Us the most rcent version.
Bye

[fgd3]

The question isn't about the water depth over the tunnel sections, it's about vertical clearance under the trestles. The larger scale charts (both ENC and RNC) show the clearance beside the bridge. The smaller scale charts don't. An object query on US5VA20M doesn't list the bridge as one of the feature classes. That's apparently an error in the chart data, as other charts do list the bridge feature class and show the vertical clearance when you click on it.

Fabbian