Scanning charts - views wanted..

[Gordonmc]

From previous threads I gather there is some discomfort at the cost of electronic charts for computer navigation and passage planning. More so when they need updating fairly regularly.
One way of reducing cost is to download a basic software package, ie. Oziexplorer and scan in your own charts. Fair enough.
The problem is that most folk only have access to A4 scanners, which means a full scale Admiralty chart would need to be divided up into a dozen or so Jpeg files.
Would there be a market for a service to scan charts on an individual basis up to AO size?
I realise there may be an issue with HMHO, but before getting to that bridge I would appreciate Forum views.

 

[Robin2]

I suspect the first question to answer is how much you would have to charge to meet the Admiralty royalties as well as you labour costs.

After that we can consider whether we would like the product.

 

[Peppermint]

I understand

that shipping companies often fax chart sections to their ships. Taping them together must be fun.

 

[rich]

Instead of scanning, i used my dig,cam it worked

rich )

 

[BrendanS]

It will be a limited market, so costs vs. benefit are small. Would probably work only if you already have access to an A0 scanner. Even if you found a market, the Admiralty copyright costs would scupper any attempt. Why would they let you do something they could do much cheaper (unless you claim unfair monopoly position). Don't even think you could just copy charts, and then advertise them for sale.

If you want examples, look at the internet sites who offered free tide tables, only to find they had to pull them when they lawyers got involved. These guys were not even charging for the service.

 

[byron]

As a side issue, I wonder if one would need insurance cover in case one produced a chart say dated today and there had been an alteration yesterday causing the buyer to go aground or whatever. Just a thought, I guess you could always put a Rider saying the Producers "make every effort etc. but make no guarantee etc."
I will stick to my AA Book for now as I don't trust these electronics.

http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[davel]

I'm a user of scanned charts and currently use the "A4 scan then stitch" method. This works OK but is time consuming and gets pretty boring after the first few charts. I've therefore investigated the options for getting my charts scanned via a bigger scanner. What I've discovered is that
a) there aren't that many folks around who offer the service (but they do exist)
b) the cost of the scanning service makes it unecomomic for me (typical cost quoted is between £20 and £30 per chart)
c) at that price, I'm better off buying Maptech charts at about £100 for a folio of 10 to 15 charts.

There is a market for the service you talk about, but it's fairly small, pretty fragmented and very price sensitive!

Dave L.

 

[davel]

Rich,
What resolution camera did you use on what size chart? Did you have any problems with image distortion?

Dave L.

 

[Gordonmc]

Clarification - No intention of copying charts for sale.
Have access to AO scanner.

 

[Twister_Ken]

If you are doing it just for yourself then you'll probably steer clear of any copyright issues (analagous to copying a CD to tape for use in the car). But if you start copying for distribution to others (even if for free), then I suspect the chart owner (UKHO, etc) would consider you are depriving them of revenue possibilities and come after you with a big legal gun.

 

[vyv_cox]

What's the file size of an AO scan? I was scanning parts of a chart for a presentation last night at 75 dpi on A4 and was soon up to 25 Mb in a .psd file. Resolution was only just adequate for fine print.

 

[AlanPound]

Mustek make an A3 scanner that works out around £100. It will do only 300x600 dpi max, but Ozi says that 150x150 is quite adequate....

(I like the digital camera idea...)

 

[davel]

That sound good value!
Resolution is more than enough for chart scanning.

Off to do a Google to see where I can get one!

Dave L.

 

[AlanPound]

You could try www.ebuyer.com check under scanners and get the full listing....

Ebuyer seem to be the best part of 100% reliable at getting stuff to you, but 100- that rating if you have any problems with what you receive (be warned!) They are 100% web based (don't even use email for duplex communication), and everything other then a purchase order proceeds at their rate (about 1 month per communication transaction...)

... so if you can find it elsewhere... (£91.61 +VAT from ebuyer...)

 

[KevL]

Can't comment on how I know this but Irish Sea as 8848 x 6622 greyscale .tif image is 2.16Mb - A0 scanners can be found in most Drawing offices some times as plotter/copier/scanner all in one.

KevL

--
It may be the early bird that catches the worm but its the second mouse that gets the cheese.

 

[rich]

Dave if i had taken longer to get the lighting right, with tipod laid across table and chart on floor,it came out good,zoom in, was good on computer, but stitge program i could not get to work.slite distortion,,,,ps if i could type,i would tell you more. it's worth having a go.

rich )

 

[jfm]

In defence of ready made digi charts

Is it really correct to say that digital charts are expensive? On a Cmap chip you can get perhaps 30 charts for £150 quid, so much cheaper than paper. And miles better than a diy bodge. (I suppose the catch is you might not want all those 30 charts, but you have to buy them all as a batch, I mean you can't pick out the exact ones you want...)