CM93/3 <-> S57 comparison?

[luke austria]

I've found some google entries stating that "CM93/3 is compatible to S57"
Does that mean, that CM93/3 charts can be used with PolarNavy? Or am I totaly wrong?

[brak]

CM93 charts are not "compatible" with S57. They are a separate data format (although if you dig deep enough, the original CM93 shares some data definition principles with S57, but that's beyond the level of interest of most chart users).

That is to say - no, they can't be used with PolarView. Not likely to ever happen, as CMap/Jeppesen want *a lot* of money for official CM93 SDK and, more importantly, that SDK will only work with legally obtained CM93 charts which are extremely expensive (their target market is large commercial vessels).

I wish there was a better answer, but there is no legal way to use CM93 charts in software that would be useful to individual navigators.

[luke austria]

Ok - that's what I expected to hear...

[kaiviti]

You may find this info useful to determine compatability. CM93/3 is compatabable with S-57/3
Jeppesen Norway - C-MAP Professional Information

[brak]

I think it's important to define "compatible"
Compatible as in "can be read by the same software" - no. CM93 is a different data format, and can't be read by software that supports S-57 (and vice versa)

Compatible as in "conveys the same information" - definitely. Most vector data formats are "compatible" in this sense to a point, as they can convey the same geographic features. CM93 also uses a similar set of definitions (what to call things) to that of S-57. So software can draw a similar picture and, more importantly, (and that's why the call it "compatible") their data gets to be certified just like official S-57 ENCs for navigational use on board commercial vessels etc.

Personally, I think the first definition of "compatible" is the one that people are more concerned with. Jeppesen is talking about the second definition.

[kaiviti]

The way I read the statement by Jeppesen is that the CM93/3 format is compatable with the new S-57/3 format. CM93 version 2 are not compatable with S-57 ECDIS systems. I think it is important to consider what versions of S-57 you are refering to.

[gravosa]

Originally Posted by luke austria

I've found some google entries stating that "CM93/3 is compatible to S57"
Does that mean, that CM93/3 charts can be used with PolarNavy? Or am I totaly wrong?

why to be bothered with polar navy. use opencpn and problem sorted.

[brak]

Originally Posted by kaiviti

The way I read the statement by Jeppesen is that the CM93/3 format is compatable with the new S-57/3 format. CM93 version 2 are not compatable with S-57 ECDIS systems. I think it is important to consider what versions of S-57 you are refering to.

Technically, there is only one S-57. Versions refer to object definition and such - essentially high-level organizational features. Any S-57 viewer can load at least basic geometries from any S-57 format data. It may not be able to identify some of the more esoteric geometries as specific objects (although land/sea/navaids are all the same).