Dynamic environment charting - the next stage for marine electronic navigation

Digital electronics have caused massive changes to navigation technology in the latter half of the twentieth century. This paper presents an alternati ve view to much of the commentary on the future of electronic navigation. I t is written from a small craft perspective, although the principles are of value to commercial and naval shipping. Essentially, it proposes the devel opment of environmental simulation as the basis for computer-hosted chartin g systems on vessels. This is drawn from the author's experience of develop ing the DyGeo system for environmental simulation, of which the navigation version forms a part. It stresses that much of the additional data we have placed on charts this century has been cultural in content, and necessitate s a large bureaucratic system for its maintenance. An environmental system requires different types of inputs, but can be largely self-maintaining. Th e advent of the inexpensive, portable, personal computer has put this sort of facility in the hands of the leisure mariner as well as professional nav igators.