6/12/2012

ChartAid Program

Description:

Many people have found satellite images to be helpful in supplementing their information about a particular area.  The ChartAid program offers you the ability to save Google Maps, Google Earth, and Microsoft Bing Maps printable images as Raster Charts or Photo Charts to be used with your favorite navigation program: 

• The Raster Charts are compatible with the NOAA standard for electronic Raster Charts using the BSB/KAP file format.  The Raster Charts are geographically referenced to WGS84 and have been tested with Chart Navigator, Coastal Explorer, MacENC, MaxSea, Nobeltec and RayTech Navigator. 

• The Photo Charts are compatible with the Maptech standard for electronic Photo Charts using the SPH file format.  The Photo Charts are geographically referenced and have been tested with Coastal Explorer, MaxSea, Nobeltec and RayTech Navigator.  If your navigation program supports Photo Charts, you may prefer Photo Charts over Raster Charts.  Photo Charts are smaller in size, support more colors, and can be overlaid on top of existing charts.

ChartAid benefits boaters whose charts are inaccurate, outdated, or of poor resolution.  My wife and I are currently cruising in Mexico and find the local charts are off by one to three miles.  Having the detailed ChartAid charts has been helpful. 

Using ChartAid:

The ChartAid program is easy to use and requires three simple steps to create and save a chart:

1. Select the location of interest and image source, Location Window.  Using the interface you can pan and zoom the display or enter the latitude and longitude directly. 
2. Define the desired scale and resolution and then select the chart type, Resolution Window. 
3. Enter the chart name, adjust image quality versus file size, and then save the image as a Raster Chart, Raster Chart Window or a Photo Chart, Photo Chart Window. 

The ChartAid program supports Google Earth, Google Maps and Microsoft Bing Maps printable images.  Four different interfaces are provided:

• Google Maps - A standard interface for the most recent satellite images using Google Maps.  The chart size is limited to 4096 by 4096. 
• Google Earth Plugin - An alternate interface that allows the user to select from different historical images using the Google Earth Plugin.  This interface is useful if the standard satellite image has cloud coverage that is blocking your particular area of interest.  The charts size is limited to 4096 by 4096. 
• Google Earth Program - An advanced interface that allows the user to use images from the Google Earth Program.  This interface is useful if the user wants special datasets or display features that are available with the Google Earth Program - as an example, the ability to display KML, KMZ and ETA data.  The chart size is limited to your computer's screen size. 
• Microsoft Bing Maps - A separate satellite image database interface to use images from Microsoft's Bing Maps.  The Microsoft Bing Maps image database is different from the Google Earth/Maps image database.  The chart size is limited to 4096 by 4096. 

In addition to the ability to easily produce single charts, the ChartAid program also makes it easy to produce multiple charts for a given location.  Two different Multiple Charts options are provided:

• Area - Multiple charts within an area boundary.  Using a graphical interface you can define a boundary with multiple sides.  This area boundary is then filled with multiple charts.  The number of charts is determined by area boundary and your selection of the chart resolution. 
• Route - Multiple charts along a specified route.  Using a graphical interface you can define a route with multiple waypoints.  This route is then filled with multiple charts.  The number of charts is determined by the route, route track width and your selection of the chart resolution. 

Installing Charts for use with your Navigation Program:

Before a ChartAid chart can be used with your navigation program, the chart must be installed using that program. 

Installing charts is different for each navigation program, so check your instructions for installing charts.  For example, with Coastal Explorer the installation of the charts is simple - Coastal Explorer automatically scans the default folder "C:\Chartkit" for any available charts.  With Nobeltec or RayTech Navigator you have to install each chart manually. 

Examples:

• CMAP - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - using Nobeltec
• NOAA - Sawyer Cove, Maine - using Coastal Explorer
• MapMedia - Mazatlan, Mexico - using MaxSea
• Photo Chart Overlay - using Coastal Explorer, Nobeltec and RayTech Navigator (Updated)

Tips:

• Overview Diagram (Updated)
• Photo Charts versus Raster Charts (Updated)
• Google Earth Plugin
• Google Earth Program
• Microsoft Bing Maps
• Chart Storage/Installation and Multiple Computers
• Naming Your Charts
• Organizing Your Charts
• Cropping Location
• Multiple Charts using Area (New)
• Multiple Charts using Route (New)
• Preview Window
• Editing Your Charts
• Updating Your Charts
• Nobeltec Users
• RayTech Navigator Users

Usage of Google Earth, Google Maps and Bing Maps Images and ChartAid Charts:

The Google Earth and Google Maps images are copyrighted by Google and the Microsoft Bing Maps images are copyrighted by Microsoft.  For your edification and personal determination regarding the use of copyrighted Google images go to Google's website, for the use of copyrighted Microsoft images go to Microsoft's website.  Any output from the ChartAid program is for your own personal use only and may not be sold or distributed.  If you have any reservations, please do not use ChartAid.

System Requirements:

ChartAid is a standard Windows program.  The program has been tested with Windows Xp, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Mac running Parallels. 

In order to create a chart, the ChartAid program requires access to the internet.  Depending on the resolution of the chart and the internet speed, it can take several seconds to minutes to download the Google Earth, Google Maps and Microsoft Bing Maps printable image.  For high resolution charts high speed internet is preferable. 

Free Trial:

Download a free trial of ChartAid.

Purchase:

Purchase a license for ChartAid.