OpenSeaMap
 | |
| Available in | English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian |
|---|---|
| Owner | Community |
| Created by | members of the „OpenSeaMap- and OpenStreetMap-Community“ |
| URL | http://OpenSeaMap.org |
| Commercial | No, OpenSource |
| Registration | only required for contributors |
Content license | Creative Commons |
OpenSeaMap - The Free Nautical Chart is a free software project, which is collecting freely usable nautical information and Geospatial data. Using this data a worldwide Nautical Chart is created. This chart is available on the OpenSeaMap website, and can also be downloaded for use as an electronic chart for offline applications.
The project is part of OpenStreetMap. OpenSeaMap uses the same database, and complements the spatial data with nautical information. Such data may be used in accordance with Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license. This ensures integration into printed materials, websites and applications is possible, without being limited by restrictive licenses, or having to pay fees. The naming of OpenSeaMap as a data source is required for data sharing.
History
The idea for the project was born at an OpenStreetMap developer conference in autumn 2008 at the Linux Hotel in Essen. A group of boaters and programmers decided to extend the coverage of OpenStreetMap to the seas and fresh water bodies. From the start the project has been worldwide and multilingual. By the end of 2009, the design and architecture of the project had been created, and a sample harbor "Warnemünde" was created to serve as an example chart. Since autumn 2009, a dedicated server has been available and the project is engaged in several collaborations with other free projects and organizations.
In January 2010 OpenSeaMap was given a stand at Europe's largest boat show, Boot Dusseldorf, and this allowed the project volunteers to present the project to a large audience of specialists for the first time.
Contents of the chart
Charts will show lighthouses, buoys, cardinals and other navigational aids. In the ports, port facilities will be mapped (port wall, pier, walkways, docks, fueling stations, loading cranes, access roads, railway lines, ferry lines). Similarly, public authorities, shipbuilders and repairers, as well as sanitation and utility facilities will be displayed. The navigational attributes correspond to the international standard IHO S-57.
Water depths are not yet covered, because the database is not designed for three-dimensional coordinates.
The data are presented in multiple levels with OpenLayers on the base map of OpenStreetMap. The base map contains all the possible objects from OpenStreetmap. [1] OpenSeaMap includes additional layers such as aids to navigation, ports and temporary racing events. The plan is eventually integrate a bathymetric model to describe the seabed.
Applications
The chart is for planning sailing and boat trips. It will also be useful as a guide for tourists. It is not intended to replace official charts.
- Online Map
- The map is available to any computer with an internet connection from the website OpenSeaMap.org. This map is updated daily.
- Offline Map
- The map can also be loaded on local data storage and can be used on any PC without internet access. This map will also permit use on other devices, such as GPS devices from Garmin and Lowrance, phones, and PDAs. The off-map is regularly updated, usually every week.
- Navigation
- With certain navigation programs, it is possible to display the current position directly on the chart via a connected GPS device, tracking a vessel's movement. An NMEA interface [can run [Autopilot]] and thus control the ship. Also, the display of AIS signals on the chart is possible. Appropriate navigation tools from the open source area are SeaClear and OpenCPN.
Internationalization
The site is translated into six languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Russian. The tools and the legends are available with a German, English and French interface. On the map the place names are always written in local language and script. The geographical coverage is worldwide. Depending on the region and the active cartographers, the coverage varies but is growing daily.
Timeliness
Data is stored in the database as soon as it has been entered, and is immediately available worldwide. Base map data is visible on the map after a few minutes. Navigational data is currently (2010) visible on the chart about two days after it has been entered.
Editing Tools
To edit the data that are two edit programs used:
- OpenSeaMap online editor for beacon
- The online editor [2] was designed specifically for OpenSeaMap. It provides the user with a graphic-input, without having to deal with the data schema must be behind it. It runs on any standard [[browsers] Compatible] ..
- Offline Editor JOSM "with navigational enhancements
- JOSM is the default editor for OpenStreetMap. It was for navigational use special abilities in order to expand (plugin). It is written in Java and runs on multiple desktop platforms [3]
To edit you must register with a verified email address. Registration is free and will encourage high data quality. Read access does not require registration.
As raw data are commonly used on the local machine or lying on the server loaded GPS tracks. These are the editing tool, where appropriate, displayed together with freely available satellite images or aerial photographs. Based on these data displayed, the user can now generate points, lines and planes that track the objects of reality mapped. These points and lines can be assigned attributes that describe the objects and their properties. The editors are structured so that only allowed combinations are possible.
Other programs can access the XML-RPC interface to the data on the server OpenSeaMap reading and writing.
Harbor pilots
On the map are the world port, marina and [located [anchorage | anchorage]]. ] Over a [[pop-up] these are linked with a port manual containing detailed port information. This manual is organized as a Wiki and is shaped by the users. Included is the free wikiproject "SkipperGuide" [4]. 5000 ports are accessible worldwide, including detailed descriptions of 600 marinas.