dKart Evolution Basics
The production of data in S-101 format is the main challenge for HOs (Hydrographic Offices), as it requires publishing ENCs (Electronic Navigational Charts) in S-57 format in parallel with ENCs in S-101 format for a long period of time. All together requires additional finances, resources, and compensation for additional risks, which inevitably arise when increasing the nomenclature of cartographic information.
At the same time, the S-101 format consists of more than 90% of data that already exists in the S-57 format - in S-101 they are simply renamed and reshuffled. How this increases the safety of navigation is a rhetorical question, but the fact is that the information difference between S-57 and S-101 is less than 10%.
It would seem that with such an insignificant difference, it would be logical to follow an evolutionary path and add 10% to the already available 90% of data. However, in practice, we are dealing with a so-called "revolutionary approach", where 90% is joined to 10%, which is the main reason for the emergence of excessive complexity and, as a consequence, excessive cost of such a solution.
It would seem that with such an insignificant difference, it would be logical to follow an evolutionary path and add 10% to the already available 90% of data. However, in practice, we are dealing with a so-called "revolutionary approach", where 90% is joined to 10%, which is the main reason for the emergence of excessive complexity and, as a consequence, excessive cost of such a solution.
The table below shows some examples of formal renamings that, in our opinion, do not have great practical meaning.
The cost of the "revolutionary" solution, which leads to parallel and double production of ENCs, requires a substantial, more than two-fold, increase in production resources, including the acquisition of new software tools, hiring additional personnel, conducting training, and expanding infrastructure.
As claimed, the result of a substantial increase in the cost of cartographic production will be:
We will not discuss here how justified the additional costs are. We will only note that obtaining the specified results is in no way related to additional cartographic work.
- Intelligent text placement;
- Improved buoyage presentation;
- Reduced alarm fatigue;
- Improved cyber resilience;
- Future proof for autonomous vessels.
We will not discuss here how justified the additional costs are. We will only note that obtaining the specified results is in no way related to additional cartographic work.
The insignificant, less than 10%, difference between S-57 and S-101 leads to the idea that a reasonable solution is the maximum reuse of information that is prepared within the current S-57 productions and the creation of strictly special tools necessary for adding and editing special S-101 information.
However, one limitation lies on the path of this approach, which is that conversion from S-57 to S-101 and back is impossible, i.e., maintaining two data types requires double production, which we want to avoid by all means. The solution is to use data unification based on their universal description, which contains all the necessary information for representation in both formats. For this purpose, we use tokens, built on the basis of the universal S-100 data model, using FC-157 and stored in an open XML format.
This approach provides transformations in any direction using a universal program, for which only a description of the information and the rules for its transformation are needed. This ensures maximum flexibility and, most importantly, comparability of information. The disadvantage is relatively slow operation compared to binary formats, but this is fully compensated by the performance of modern computers.
The use of universal descriptors allows solving the bottleneck problem in development and involving diverse groups and companies for this, not limited by knowledge of proprietary formats.
This approach provides transformations in any direction using a universal program, for which only a description of the information and the rules for its transformation are needed. This ensures maximum flexibility and, most importantly, comparability of information. The disadvantage is relatively slow operation compared to binary formats, but this is fully compensated by the performance of modern computers.
The use of universal descriptors allows solving the bottleneck problem in development and involving diverse groups and companies for this, not limited by knowledge of proprietary formats.
The next logical step after unifying data descriptors is to unify the requirements for them. Analysis of the S-58 and S-158 standards shows that the latter contains about 70 tests that actually relate to the information of the S-57 format.
We added these tests to the S-57 Editor and Inspector, thereby ensuring the execution of 90% of the work on preparing the S-101 format in the familiar production environment. This does not require expanding personnel, training, or investment in new technologies.
We added these tests to the S-57 Editor and Inspector, thereby ensuring the execution of 90% of the work on preparing the S-101 format in the familiar production environment. This does not require expanding personnel, training, or investment in new technologies.
As a result, the production scheme looks as shown in the diagram. In the first step, the source S-57 ENCs are checked against the extended list of S-58+ tests and corrected accordingly. Note that the data remain S-57 compatible and can be used as official.
In the second step, using the Tokenizer, S-57 ENCs are converted into tokens and S-101 ENCs. In the third step, dKart Evolution implies the final preparation of S-101 via tokens, as a single universal information storage, but for those who use their own tools for working with S-101, they can work with them directly. As well as the dKart S-101 Editor.
In the second step, using the Tokenizer, S-57 ENCs are converted into tokens and S-101 ENCs. In the third step, dKart Evolution implies the final preparation of S-101 via tokens, as a single universal information storage, but for those who use their own tools for working with S-101, they can work with them directly. As well as the dKart S-101 Editor.
The production of ENCs in two formats requires not only additional resources, it generates additional risks. The main one is associated with the discrepancy between S-57 and S-101 charts, which could arise as a result of erroneous operation of software tools and unintentional actions of a cartographer.
The only possible way to verify two ENCs manufactured in different formats is to compare their tokens. For this purpose, we use the dKart VS program, which allows comparing charts in different formats. We pay significant attention to comparing three-dimensional tokens, the mismatch of which can be critical for the safety of navigation.
In the first fragment, the areas where it is impossible to determine depth values due to the absence or inconsistency of bathymetric information are marked in red. The other fragments show illustrations of mismatches between ENCs in S-57, S-101, and S-102 formats.
The ability to compare multi-format cartographic information through tokens in an open format allows doing this with the use of third-party companies, which is a guarantee of quality.
In the first fragment, the areas where it is impossible to determine depth values due to the absence or inconsistency of bathymetric information are marked in red. The other fragments show illustrations of mismatches between ENCs in S-57, S-101, and S-102 formats.
The ability to compare multi-format cartographic information through tokens in an open format allows doing this with the use of third-party companies, which is a guarantee of quality.
Even in the case when for the production of S-101 based on S-57 we use only the necessary procedures and tools that relate only to the production necessity directly related to S-101 information, we still get a significant increase in production costs. Not more than two times, as with parallel production, but approximately 40% more compared to today's S-57. For most HOs, such a budget increase is a very big challenge, not always feasible.
The only way to reduce the cost is the automation of data preparation, which we are conducting in the following areas:
- Batch processing;
- Auto correction;
- Reports and documentation;
- Auto editing.
Batch processing allows running automatic validation of the entire chart collection.
Some errors do not require the operator's attention and can be automatically corrected in the check mode, which allows significant time savings.
Automatic report preparation allows presenting the results of data checking and correction in the form of readable documents, which significantly simplifies their analysis and understanding. Processing reports by the dKart Patrol system allows distributing tasks among cartographers and automatically calling the necessary tools with preloaded data.
Some errors do not require the operator's attention and can be automatically corrected in the check mode, which allows significant time savings.
Automatic report preparation allows presenting the results of data checking and correction in the form of readable documents, which significantly simplifies their analysis and understanding. Processing reports by the dKart Patrol system allows distributing tasks among cartographers and automatically calling the necessary tools with preloaded data.
Automatic parsing and interpretation of source messages allows automatically understanding and applying source messages for correcting ENCs in both formats.
All together allows reducing data production costs by more than two times and achieving an overall cost reduction of more than 20% for producing and maintaining two ENC collections in both formats compared to today's level. That is, to publish twice as many charts, but in a cheaper way.
All together allows reducing data production costs by more than two times and achieving an overall cost reduction of more than 20% for producing and maintaining two ENC collections in both formats compared to today's level. That is, to publish twice as many charts, but in a cheaper way.
More information about the dKart Evolution system can be found on the website dkart.fi, where the main materials are presented in national languages in the mode of video presentations.
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