Scale Minimum (Maritime Charting)

SCAMIN is an abbreviation of Scale Minimum. The SCAMIN tool is used to automatically populate the SCAMIN attribute field on the applicable feature records. The SCAMIN value of an object determines the display scale below which the object is no longer visible on an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). The purpose of the SCAMIN attribute is to reduce the amount of clutter displayed to the ECDIS user. Running the SCAMIN tool populates the SCAMIN attribute on features based on a configurable XML file and the compilation scale of the data. It is designed to modify only features that require change. If no change is required, the feature is unedited; this supports the S-57 update process.

Note:

In an NIS enterprise environment, SCAMIN is only populated on the product instance, not the NIS.

The SCAMIN.xml file

The SCAMIN XML file may require configuration prior to use. There are two methods for calculating SCAMIN, the Fixed Value method and the Radar Range method. Each method has a corresponding SCAMIN XML file that defines the set of rules and characteristics of the SCAMIN tool. The rules contained in the XML file determine the SCAMIN value that will be encoded on each S-57 object. If no rule is defined for a specific S-57 object, then no action takes place.

The Fixed Value method calculates the SCAMIN value for S-57 features based on a calculation type and a designated value for each rule in the XML file.

The Radar Range method applies the SCAMIN values dynamically by taking the compilation scale of the S-57 product, or the M_CSCL feature within the product, and derives a feature's SCAMIN value based on a combination of rules and the two tables (Standard Radar Range and SCAMIN value) contained in the XML file.

Note:

SCAMIN is not set on Group 1 features. Group 1 features can be found in the ENC Product Specification S-57, Appendix B.1.

Tip:

To help you get started, there are two SCAMIN.xml sample files, one for the Fixed Value method and one for the Radar Range method, included at the following location:

• For 32-bit Windows operating systems—<installation location>\Program Files\ArcGIS\EsriNautical\Desktop10.1\Common
• For 64-bit Windows operating systems—<installation location>\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\EsriNautical\Desktop10.1\Common

Consider the following when deciding which SCAMIN XML file to select:

Fixed Value method	Radar Range method
Calculation types Syntax for calculation types Order of precedence Chart scale and syntax M_CSCL features An XML rule set for each navigation purpose is recommended	Compilation scale value of the S-57 cell, or the M_CSCL feature Standard Radar Scale table and SCAMIN Value table Rule type Syntax for the rules M_CSCL features

Nautical properties

The nautical properties store a number of parameters used by ArcGIS for Maritime: Charting. The SCAMIN XML file location parameter is located under the General section of the Nautical Properties pane on the Production Properties dialog box and stores the location of your selected SCAMIN XML file. There are two methods for calculating SCAMIN; each method has a unique XML file. The SCAMIN tool functions differently based on which SCAMIN XML file is set.