Iliade
Well-Known Member
While trying to upload some charts to my InReach I found this resource. Not sure if it has been mentioned here already.
Chart Locator
Chart Locator
Free USA electronic charts
- Thread starter Iliade
- Start date
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know if something similar will be created for EU? There was a new directive stating that information/data paid for out of public funds must be made freely available and this should include charting.
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Poignard
Well-Known Member
I have just given your post a 'Like' before it gets deleted
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GHA
Well-Known Member
US charts also available for download in Opencpn, and many other free official chart options >
doug748
Well-Known Member
These charts have always been freely available AFAIK. This post look provocative to me, I will report it and see what the moderators make of it.
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Poignard
Well-Known Member
Would you really do that?
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Yes he did, and the forum police edited my post. I am still curious to know where EU charts are available for free in a legitimate way, and would still like UK charts to me made available for free, given that we've paid for them to be created. I feel like that's something the RYA ought to be working on, and certainly something the magazines should be pushing for.
Tradewinds
Well-Known Member
Getting bloody ridiculous.
capnsensible
Well-Known Member
Refueler
Well-Known Member
"
Copyright and licensing of UKHO data
All work the UKHO creates is protected by Crown copyright and/or database rights in the UK, and it is also protected elsewhere in the world through international treaties. We control the copyright to our work under authority from the Controller of His Majesty’s Stationery Office, who is also Director of the Office for Public Sector Information (OPSI).
You may not reproduce, adapt, translate, store or distribute our material in any way (including electronically, by photocopying or recording) without our written permission. Full details are available via our dedicated copyright licencing service."
Its a difficult area .... MOD is Govt Funded and from that and the revenue gained from sales - the Hydrographic Dept exists and still today provides world leading levels.
The situation similarly exists for weapons and other equipment designed / developed by Depts funded by MOD and sales revenue.
Would you also want to have a weapon free as well ??
Do not misunderstand me - I too would prefer to have free UK / Europe charts ... but I cannot see it happening .....
doug748
Well-Known Member
The position with charts is at least understandable. An expensive department covers some of it's costs by revenue raised from a relatively niche market, mainly shipping.
However the attitude with tidal data baffles me, why the height of tide in Dover should be treated as a state secret is bizarre. Given it's vital importance for swimmers, holiday makers, fishermen, water sports as well as marine professionals this information ought to be open source for all who want to use it.
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However the attitude with tidal data baffles me, why the height of tide in Dover should be treated as a state secret is bizarre. Given it's vital importance for swimmers, holiday makers, fishermen, water sports as well as marine professionals this information ought to be open source for all who want to use it.
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GHA
Well-Known Member
also remember satellite images are free & extremely useful
(navionics & cmap as well, get free arguments about copyright ?)
Game changer for cruisers where it's hard to know if charts are reliable if they exist at all. Sasplanet is great to switching between the sources to see if they line up.
Mbtiles for OpenCPN: A huge step forward for satellite charting
(navionics & cmap as well, get free arguments about copyright ?)
Game changer for cruisers where it's hard to know if charts are reliable if they exist at all. Sasplanet is great to switching between the sources to see if they line up.
Mbtiles for OpenCPN: A huge step forward for satellite charting
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Yes, I absolutely expect not to be charged each time our leaders use the weapons I paid for. I don't think that it's unreasonable to get the data I paid for either, since I paid for it.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
I disagree. As with mapping, opening up the data set has an enormous and positive impact on the economy with new industries cropping up as a result. By keeping the data under lock and key we're effectively preventing that growth and allowing other countries to get a head start. We saw this with GPS, maps, streetview and countless other examples. Even down to reducing traffic on our roads by rerouting was enabled through open data.
The benefit to the nation of charging for this stuff is very nearly zero, the potential benefit to opening it up is massive. Just because our civil servants lack the imagination to see new uses for data doesn't mean they are not there.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Tidal data is free via the 'other' source .... provided foundation for WXtide32 program etc. UKHO is not only Tidal info for UK and World ..
Another if you have internet : Tide Times
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jwilson
Well-Known Member
It is irritating that US charts are free but we pay for ours, but what is more important is that someone actually compares the cost of maintaining the charts with what is realised to the UK government through selling them, after all the admin/staff costs of selling the data are taken into account. I do wonder if someone in the US did this calculation some years ago and decided it actually cost less to make them free online. Obviously our government should not subsidise anyone with free very high quality paper and printing, but online ..... ?
Assume for this purpose that the UK really MUST for military purposes maintain accurate charting, much as it does the Ordnance Survey maps ( which as the name "Ordnance" indicates were created so we could site and direct cannons accurately if Napoleon invaded 200 years ago).
And not many paper Admiralty charts are bought these days. The cost/benefit to government must be changing.
Assume for this purpose that the UK really MUST for military purposes maintain accurate charting, much as it does the Ordnance Survey maps ( which as the name "Ordnance" indicates were created so we could site and direct cannons accurately if Napoleon invaded 200 years ago).
And not many paper Admiralty charts are bought these days. The cost/benefit to government must be changing.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
You're making the wrong assumption that making them free is only of value to the people who presently buy charts. As I said above, new industries often spring up when data is made freely available. It certainly did when the OS reluctantly made some of their layers free. Even if we ignore economic impact, that data would be useful for all kinds of ecological purposes.
We're not talking free paper charts. Obviously those need paying for, as do OS maps on paper since someone has to be paid to print them. We're talking free access to the underlying data, in a format that can be used by anyone for any purpose they need.
We're not talking free paper charts. Obviously those need paying for, as do OS maps on paper since someone has to be paid to print them. We're talking free access to the underlying data, in a format that can be used by anyone for any purpose they need.
Ningaloo
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately there are no "legal" sources of free UK tidal data. UKHO expects a royalty on all UK tide predictions beyond a few days ahead. I am registered with them as I used to provide tidal and planning software in the pre-smartphone days.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
There was an alternative source .... if I remember correctly based in Scotland. Tidal data is in various forms but the two main are :
1. Astronomical forces and calculations to predict.
2. Tidal actual recorded / observed data at tidal stations, used as archive material and also to assist in accuracy of #1. Using as example the weather conditions at time of recording.
#1 of course is free and no-one can really claim copyright on nature. This is where the 'Scottish' bunch concentrated their efforts. They did have access to #2 info until UKHO reduced that to just a few stations data in UK.
I've tried to find the group - but seems they have possibly stopped ... ?? It was true that odd times - UKHO and they did not agree - but given the approximate time of events .... who was right ?
st599
Well-Known Member
Just be aware that the OSM charts are OpenSeaMap - user generated from NMEA recordings.US charts also available for download in Opencpn, and many other free official chart options >
They're usually good in Germany but they're not NV Verlag.
OpenSeaMap: Startseite
