3D Nautical Charts

 

 

(A) Charts and radar displays are normally used in a north-up mode. (B) On this southbound vessel, a desired action to go on the east side of the central island with the cairn (a direction to the right on the chart display) leads to a turn on the wheel in the other direction (port/left). This can be confusing. (C) A conning display with a 3-D chart in a bridge perspective would simplify the decision-making in this situation.

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This research commenced after the Sleipner accident in Norway 1999 where a high-speed ferry lost orientation and crashed into a small island. The research question was one of finding better ways of transmitting way-showing information. The screenshot above is from a prototype application made for the doctoral thesis in 2006.

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The hypothesis of cognitive off-loading was tested in a series of laboratory maze experiments in 2005, 2007 and 2011. The experimental results clearly confirmed the hypothesis

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Technical tests are now conducted to implement practical applications of the research. The image above is from a field test with an Android smart phone app in the Koster national park on the Swedish west coast in June 2015.