Calhypso, a solution for cartographic and hydrographic services
One of the most time-consuming tasks for cartographers is processing bathymetric data to convert it into navigational charts (or bENCs). The cartographic synthesis of water depth data is a painstaking and time-consuming task, and is affected by a concern for uniformity and accuracy. Calhypso, the result of a project designed to address these issues, is a software package that processes bathymetric files and produces bENCs automatically.
A tool able to convert a xyz bathymetric dataset into a generalized S57 nautical chart in a few minutes !
A partnership between Geomod and Shom.
Geomod :
• Cartography
• Generalization
• ENC
• High Density Data
• Scale
• Precision
• Safety navigation
• Reproducibility
• Efficiency
• Readability
XYZ Survey :
• Compilation scale
• Depth contour values
• Generalization parameters
Parameters :
• Data decimation
• Sounding selection
• Insoline simplification and smoothing
S57 bathymetric chart can be opened with ENC editors.
In addition :
• Time saving
• Reproducibility
• Adjustable precision
• Validation tool assistant
• Update tool assistant
A complete tool designed for marine cartographers
Ask us for your free demo and for more informations, contact us at : calhypso@geomod.fr
The service dedicated to cartographic and hydrographic services
Calculation parameters
Creation of bathymetric charts in IHO S-57 format using parameters including the scale of the chart.
Control of generalisation to facilitate the work of cartographers
Identifying new hazards to navigation by analysing and comparing charts in use and more recent bathymetric surveys.
Creation of ENC charts
Creation of generalised bathymetric charts from highdensity bathymetric data (.xyz; .acs; .csv; .dat; .lgz; .glz; .pts files).
Control of the generalisation by comparing the input file with the result to ensure that the latter meets the security and legibility requirements of cartographers.
High-quality generalisation frees the cartographer from repetitive tasks and makes it easier to analyse complex cases.
Detection of new hazards to navigation
Comparison of new bathymetric data with an existing ENC to identify discrepancies and warn mariners of new hazards.
Automatic detection of hazards to navigation.
How do you produce and update bathymetric navigation charts?
A service dedicated to hydrographic and cartographic solutions for producing and updating bathymetric navigation charts. Calhypso includes validation tools in addition to its main bENC creation functionality. In this way, the software helps to control and update charts using the most recent bathymetric surveys.
• XYZ input dataset : 1 000 000 depth points
• Optional S57 context dataset : land areas and dangers
• Welcome to Calhypso Web
• Input files
• Parameters
• Output file name
• Start process
• Processing time : 1min 36sec
• Output : standardised S57 .000 file
• A safe and readable paper navigation map
• Adjustable generalisation of depth contours
• Safe and uniform sounding selection
To try Calhypso Web, contact us at calhypso@geomod.fr
Hello, Yann Corlay. I'm a marine geomatics engineer at Geomod Brest. I started at Geomod in February 2022 and I'm now working on technology watch for electronic mapping standards. It may not sound familiar but it's actually very simple, you'll see.
Aelaïg Cournez. Geomatician in marine cartography at Geomod for the past two years. I'm working on a project called Calhypso with Yann.
What is Calhypso?
Aelaïg: Calhypso is a marine cartography tool that automates the drawing of navigation charts. It was created in collaboration with the cartographers at the Shom, in Brest, to simplify the drawing of nautical charts.
Yann: Nautical charts are designed on the basis of an estimate of the seabed, to determine depths, the presence of rocks, sandbanks etc... And the aim is to create maps that are formatted and standardised with fairly precise information content, and centralised so that all navigators understand it. A bit like a road map, for example. The idea is that the Shom's cartographers are responsible for producing maps that provide this information clearly and accurately. And, in fact, creating maps is a tedious job for cartographers.
Aelaïg: There are a lot of repetitive tasks. The aim is to reduce the number of these tasks so that they can focus on the really complex mapping problems, because today we have more and more data as they need to update the charts more and more often. And to meet this need, they needed an automated mapping tool.
How is Calhypso an innovative tool?
Aelaïg: It's an automated tool, and before, the cartographers were doing this work semi-automatically, so it took up a lot of their time. First of all, it's the speed of data processing and the simplicity of execution, because all they need to do is integrate a given set of data at the scale they want the map to be. But it's really easy to use. And it's actually reliable! We designed this tool with the Shom's cartographers, who have been experts for years and years on the drawing and safety of navigation. The idea was really to draw on their knowledge and expertise to create Calhypso and to get a result that was as close as possible to the maps that the Shom can produce.
Yann: Cartographers are experts, but they also have a life and need to see their families. So a system that drastically reduces the time-consuming and, let's say, less interesting part of cartography is very good for them. Particularly as it can reduce the likelihood of human error, even if, as we said, cartographers are experienced people. We know that it can help them avoid this kind of setback, but what you have to understand is that, in any case, cartographers will always be needed. Especially when it comes to validating the maps produced by this tool. And then we say to you ‘kenavo ar wech all’. It means ‘goodbye and see you next time’ in Breton.