Raster or vector charts? Making a choice is often complicated… When we compare them, each kind of charts has advantages and disadvantages:
Raster Charts: Produced from charts provided by national hydrographic services, raster charts are highly accurate. Scanned from paper charts, you can display the official paper charts you are used to. One specific aspect is related to the paper chart’s different scales: there are several chart scales for the same area giving you more or less details… It is important to understand that when you zoom on raster charts, you open the next level of charts at that area, changing scale to increase details.
Vector charts: Vector charts are reproductions of official charts. Data is digitized in a format which allows additional information not available in raster charts such as: information about buoys, lighthouses, or Point of interest. In some parts of the world, national hydrographic services don’t exist and vector charts can be less accurate although they are often the only references point available.
MaxSea Time Zero will satisfy both choices. MapMedia’s .mm3D catalogue, specially designed for our new software, offers the choice between both formats (dependant on the availability)… MapMedia raster charts are based around the relationship with official hydrographic services with whom we have worked within the past. Our vector chart information is mainly provided by Navionics© and S57 database. MapMedia is precursor on the recreational boating market by following S52 standrads: IMO (simplified iconography)
Our charts are now more than that. They are data areas because it is a mix with: charts + aerial pictures + 3D data