Loading ENC source data (Maritime Charting)

There are several different types of source data that a user may access when producing nautical data within ArcGIS for Maritime: Charting. However, most fall into one of two categories—raster and vector. With Maritime Charting, there are a variety of raster formats you can use as source data for your ENC production efforts. See the list of supported raster formats for more details. When performing data production or maintenance, the editor will often load a raster image as a backdrop layer. If the raster image is not georeferenced, the editor will need to georeference the image before it is a viable source. Using the layer transparency settings will allow you to collect your data on top of the raster layer without having to worry about the draw order.

Vector data, the second major type of source data, can come in many different formats, including shapefiles, ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced coverages, .DGN, and many more. In the desktop production environment, you will populate your production database for either existing products or new products. The ArcGIS Data Interoperability extension further expands the number of third-party software formats available as sources for ArcGIS for Desktop. You can view S-57 ENC data in the standard S-52 display format by using the S-57 Viewer. Using the S-57 Viewer, you can easily depict specific S-57 objects since they are rendered as they appear on an ECDIS. Because these are layers in ArcMap, you can easily copy and paste the features into your ENC production database. The data source content varies, often as much as the data formats listed above. Many sources can be used in the data collection process, from sounding surveys in vector format, vectors auto-generated from raster scans, and bathymetric data to vector data from nonhydrographic sources, and so on. Being able to reference different data formats during your collection efforts will improve efficiency.

Once you have your source data loaded as a backdrop in your map document, you can start a Nautical edit session on your ENC production database and begin compiling your ENC data.

For vector source data, you can use the copy and paste tools to take the geometry from the source data and put it into your ENC production database. Using the Feature Manager window will help streamline this activity by allowing you to choose the appropriate feature class/subtype for the target layer. For example, you can select and copy a shapefile that contains the coastline and paste it into the CoastlineL/COALNE_Coastline feature class/subtype. You can also use the Feature Manager's Update Attributes tab to modify any applicable feature attributes for the COALNE feature.

Raster source data can be used as a backdrop for digitizing new features into your ENC production database. You will use the Feature Manager window to select the appropriate feature class/subtype before digitizing from the raster. For example, you have a sounding plot that needs to be digitized into your ENC production database. In the Feature Manager's Create tab, you would select the Soundings/SOUNDG_Sounding feature class/subtype and update the DEPTH field found in the Create tab with the proper depth value from the sounding plot. You can then use the Edit tool within the map document's data view to add the geographic position of the new sounding to your ENC production database.