IMO has defined e-navigation as:
the harmonized collection, integration, exchange, presentation and analysis of marine information onboard and ashore by electronic means to enhance berth to berth navigation and related services for safety and security at sea and protection of the marine environment.1
The term 'presentation' pertains to the manner in which something is displayed. In the case of e-navigation, this is primarily through electronic means. In a broader sense, the term 'portrayal' has been defined as the "presentation of information to humans" (ISO 19117). This can include visual, sound and through a sense of touch (haptics). However, for the purposes of this Guideline, the term ‘portrayal’ primarily refers to visual means of displaying e-navigation related information.
Background
In July 2006, the 81st Session of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) first decided to include e-navigation in the work programmes of the Safety-of-Navigation (NAV) and Communications and Search and Rescue (COMSAR) Sub-Committees. The "Development of an e-navigation strategy" became a high-priority item with a target completion date of 2008.
In December 2008, MSC 85 adopted a ”Strategy for the Development and Implementation of e-navigation” (MSC 85/26/Add.1 Annex 20). This comprehensive document document defined e-navigation and described the scope as being: “intended to meet present and future user needs through harmonization of marine navigation systems and supporting shore services.” In addition to describing the need, case for, vision, and benefits of e-navigation, the core objectives of the e-navigation concept were described. Included with this document was a description of the responsibilities that come with IMO ownership and control (Annex 1), and a summary of potential shipborne and shore-based users (Annex 2).
In 2006, IALA established an e-Navigation Committee. After the IALA e-navigation Seminar in July 2007, IALA Committee established six working groups to advance the work of the IALA e-navigation work programme. The IALA e-Nav Information Portrayal WG was established September 2010 with the overall objective to:
”Recommend suitable “guidance” regarding how the presentation and display of e-navigation related information should be harmonized for both shipborne and shore-based systems/services, and to what extent.” 2
This Guideline is the result of this effort.
Scope
Since e-navigation is an evolutionary process, this Guideline is intended to be descriptive – not prescriptive. Until more practical experience is gained, it is premature to prescribe specific means to present/display e-navigation related information. As such, the intent is to publish a general, goal-based guideline whereby over-arching objectives are defined, but freedom to innovate is left to both developers and users.
Core Objectives
The 85th Session of IMO MSC agreed on a number of core objectives related to the e-navigation concept.3 In the following listing, those that are associated with the presentation and display (i.e., portrayal) of e-navigation information are highlighted.
facilitate safe and secure navigation of vessels having regard to hydrographic, meteorological and navigational information and risks;
facilitate vessel traffic observation and management from shore/coastal facilities, where appropriate;
facilitate communications, including data exchange, among ship to ship, ship to shore, shore to ship, shore to shore and other users;
provide opportunities for improving the efficiency of transport and logistics;
support the effective operation of contingency response, and search and rescue services;
demonstrate defined levels of accuracy, integrity and continuity appropriate to a safety-critical system;
integrate and present information on board and ashore through a human-machine interface which maximizes navigational safety benefits and minimizes any risks of confusion or misinterpretation on the part of the user;
integrate and present information onboard and ashore to manage the workload of the users, while also motivating and engaging the user and supporting decision-making;
incorporate training and familiarization requirements for the users throughout the development and implementation process;
facilitate global coverage, consistent standards and arrangements, and mutual compatibility and interoperability of equipment, systems, symbology and operational procedures, so as to avoid potential conflicts between users; and
support scalability, to facilitate use by all potential maritime users.
While these core objectives appear to be straight-forward, what constitutes e-navigation information and how this information should be portrayed is more subjective. As it pertains to this Guideline, the "e" in e-navigation refers to "...electronic means to enhance berth to berth navigation and related services." As such, the intent is to provide practical guidance on how to achieve a "harmonized presentation" of e-navigation information both aboard and ashore.
Basic Premise and Caveats
The basic, over-riding premise of this Guideline is that:
Shipborne and shore-based equipment/systems/services should portray e-navigation-related information to all users (both onboard and ashore) in a consistent manner.
However, there are several caveats:
How information is portrayed onboard or ashore depends on the particular tasks, function, and needs of the user.
The current situation or task-at-hand can influence the amount of information necessary to make informed decisions.
The portrayal of information onboard ships or ashore does not necessarily have to be identical.
Definitions
In conjunction with this Guideline, there is benefit in using agreed-upon terminology in order to have a clear understanding of what various terms mean. This is particularly important when making a distinction between such terms as data and information, as well as display, presentation and portrayal.
The following terms are defined based on what is contained in widely recognized dictionaries or technical references. This includes the Oxford English Dictionary4, Merriam Webster Dictionary5, IALA Dictionary, IHO Dictionary6, and relevant ISO standards.
For ease of reference, the following terms are listed in alphabetical order. Further guidance is also provided by way of an example or context of use of these terms associated with the portrayal of e-navigation related information. Since there are differences in the way some terms are defined, grey highlights indicate the definition(s) that are used in conjunction with this Guideline.
Consistent
Oxford English Dict. - unchanging in effect over a period of time.
Merriam-Webster Dict. – showing steady conformity to character; constant
Example/context: The use of consistent symbology across on all displays helps to reduce misunderstanding and confusion.
Data
Oxford English Dict. – computing the quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer, being stored and transmitted in the form of electrical signals and recorded on magnetic, optical, or mechanical recording media.
Merriam-Webster Dict. – factual information output by a sensing device that must be processed to be meaningful; information in numerical form that can be digitally transmitted or processed.
Example/context: data are a raw collection of facts which can exist in any form without any evident meaning or sequence of usability.
Display
Oxford English Dict. - (of a computer or other device) show (information) on a screen. - an electronic device [used] for the visual presentation of data
Merriam-Webster Dict. – show; an electronic device that presents information in visual form
Example/context: An ECDIS display is capable of portraying both chart and navigation-related information
Feature
ISO 19117 - abstraction of real world phenomena
Feature attribute
ISO 19117 - characteristic of a feature
Geographic information
ISO 19117 - information concerning phenomena implicitly or explicitly associated with a location relative to the Earth
Icon
Oxford English Dict. – a representative symbol of something; a graphic representation on a [computer] screen
Merriam-Webster Dict. – a graphic symbol whose form suggests it meaning; a graphic symbol on a computer screen.
ISO 80416 – a graphic symbol with a particular meaning used to transmit information independently of language presented on a screen or display.
Example/context: The own-ship icon (i.e., symbol) on ECDIS represents the location of the vessel in real-time.
Information
Oxford English Dict. – Computing data [that is] processed, stored, or transmitted by a computer.
Merriam-Webster Dict. – the communication or reception of knowledge or intelligence
Example/context: Data becomes information when it presented in a manner which is understandable to humans
Intuitive
Oxford English Dict. – instinctive; based on what one feels is true, even without conscious reasoning
Merriam-Webster Dict. – known or perceived by intuition; readily learned or understood
Example/context: Showing water as blue and land as orange/brown is an intuitive electronic chart colour scheme.
Obvious
Oxford English Dict. – easily perceived or understood; clear, self-evident or apparent
Merriam-Webster Dict. – easily discovered, seen or understood; apparent
Example/context: The use of blue for water and orange/brown colours for land is both intuitive and obvious as to meaning.
Portrayal
Oxford English Dict. – a description or depiction of something in a particular way (example: realistic portrayal of a real-world object)
Merriam-Webster Dict. – act or process of portraying or depicting; representation synonyms: definition, delineation, depiction, picture, portrait, rendering
ISO 19117 – presentation of information to humans
IMO SN.1.Circ.290 - the process of representing or depicting (i.e., showing an example of what is or could be)
Example/context: e-navigation information can be portrayed in a variety of ways
Presentation
Oxford English Dict. – the manner in which something is displayed; the method by which radio, navigation or radar information is given to the operator
Merriam-Webster Dict. – a symbol or image that represents something
Example/context: The IHO S-52 Colours and Symbols Presentation Library is a prescriptive standard for ECDIS.
Symbol
Oxford English Dict. – a thing that represents or stands for something else; a mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process
Merriam-Webster Dict. – an arbitrary or conventional sign to represent operations, quantities, elements, relations or qualities
ISO 80416 – A graphical symbol is a visually perceptible figure used to transmit information independently of language.
Example/context: There should be a clear difference in what symbol is used to represent something that physically exists in the real-world (e.g., physical) versus a ‘virtual’ representation.
Unambiguous
Oxford English Dict. – not open to more than one interpretation
Merriam-Webster Dict. – clear, precise; apparent; unmistakable, straight-forward
Example/context: the use of both ‘standard’ and ‘simplified’ symbols could lead to ambiguity.
Uniform
Oxford English Dict. – not changing in form or character; remaining the same in all cases and at all times; of a similar form or character to another or others
Merriam-Webster Dict. – having always the same form, manner, or degree; not varying or variable; consistent; constant
Example/context: Portraying information a uniform manner reduces confusion as to meaning or intent.
Uniqueness
Oxford English Dict. – being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else
Merriam-Webster Dict. – distinctively characteristic
Example/context: Portraying e-navigation in a unique manner should be avoided, particularly if it causes confusion as to meaning or intent.
User selected presentation
IMO MSC 191(79) - An auxiliary presentation configured by the user for a specific task-at-hand. The presentation may include radar and/or chart information, in combination with other navigation or ship related data.
Data vs. Information Portrayal
In addition to specific, individual definitions, it is important to make a clear distinction between what is “data” and what is “information”. In the strictest sense, data can be simply a raw collection of facts, which can exist in any form without particular meaning sequence of usability. In terms of e-navigation equipment, systems and services, “data” is usually in alpha-numeric form that is output by a sensing device and then digitally transmitted via electronic means. Some examples include navigation sensor data (e.g., GPS and radar) conforming to NMEA 0183 (IEC 61162-1/-2) or AIS binary message formats (IMO SN.1/Circ. 289). However, when this data is converted into a human-readable format (i.e., portrayal) it then becomes “information” capable of being understood by shipborne and shore-based users. This information can be portrayed in a variety of ways, including alpha-numeric text, point, line or polygon, symbols or icons, and geo-spatial (map or chart).
General references
IMO and IEC have adopted several standards (i.e., references) that provide general guidance related to presentation, display or portrayal of navigation-related information. Based on the premise that “shipborne and shore-based equipment/systems/services should portray e-navigation-related information to all users (both onboard and ashore) in a consistent manner”,7 much of this guidance is relevant to the presentation, display or portrayal of e-navigation related information at shore-based facilities as well (e.g., at a VTS Centre or Port Authority).
The following sections provide a brief summary of the key contents of each standard.
IMO Resolution MSC.191 (79), Performance Standards for the presentation of navigation-related information on shipborne navigational display, 6 December 2004. (valid for equipment installed on or after 1 July 2004)
The purpose of this standard is to “harmonize the requirements for the presentation of navigation-related information on the bridge of a ship to ensure that all navigational displays adopt a consistent human machine interface philosophy and implementation.” Further, it supplements and, in case of conflict, takes priority over presentation requirements of the individual performance standards. This standard also includes the consistent use of navigational terms, abbreviations, colours and symbols, as well as other presentation characteristics. This standard also addresses the presentation of information related to specific navigational tasks by recognising user-selected presentations in addition to presentations required by the relevant individual performance standards.
Brief summary of contents:
General Requirements
Arrangement of information (e.g., use separate areas for operational display and menu/control functions)
Readability (for alphanumeric text and icons)
Colours and intensity
Symbols
Colour coding
Integrity marking
Alarms and indications (appropriate use of red, yellow, green colours)
Presentation modes
Presentation of Operational Information
Own ship
Charted information
Radar information
Target information (radar and AIS)
Graphical presentation
Operational alarms
Operational Displays
Multi-function display
Radar (including display of chart and maps on radar)
ECDIS (including display of radar and additional information)
User selected (task orientated) presentation
Physical Requirements
Display size
Screen size, resolution and viewing angle
Colours
IMO SN/Circ.243, Guidelines for the presentation of Navigation-related symbols, terms and abbreviations, 15 December 2004
The purpose of these guidelines is “to provide guidance on the appropriate use of navigation-related symbols to achieve a harmonized and consistent presentation.”
Two annexes are included:
Annex 1 - Guidelines for the Presentation of Navigation-related Symbols
Annex 2 - Guidelines for the Presentation of Navigation-related Terms and Abbreviations
IMO MSC/Circ.982, Guidelines on Ergonomic Criteria for Bridge Equipment and Layout, 20 December 2000
These Guidelines were developed to facilitate a successful ergonomic design of the bridge and the equipment on the bridge in order to improve the reliability and efficiency of navigation. The Guidelines contain ergonomic requirements as well as a functionally-oriented bridge layout to support watch-keeping personnel in their tasks by a user-centred design of the bridge equipment and layout. While these guidelines were primarily intended for shipborne equipment, much of the guidance applies to shore-based workstations as well.
In particular, the guidelines provide a functional description various types of workstations on the bridge, including:
Navigating and manoeuvring
Monitoring *
Manual steering (Helmsman's workstation)
Docking (bridge wing)
Planning and documentation *
Safety *
Communications *
* Of particular relevance to shore-based workstations.
IEC 60945, Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems- General Requirements, methods of testing and required test results, Edition 4, 2001
This standard specifies the general requirements, methods of testing, and required test results, for shipborne radionavigation equipment and electronic navigation aids in support of in IMO Res. A.694. More specifically, it specifies minimum performance requirements for equipment that are required carriage under SOLAS V. Key sections that pertain to the presentation, display or portrayal of navigation- related information include:
Section
6.1 Ergonomics and Human Machine Interface (HMI)
6.1.6 Screen display and indicators
6.2.2 Alarms and Indicators
6.2.3 Illumination
IEC 62288, Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Presentation of navigation-related information on shipborne navigational displays - General requirements, methods of testing and required test results, Edition 1.0, July 2008.
This standard specifies the general requirements, methods of testing, and required test results, for the presentation of navigation-related information on shipborne navigational displays in support of IMO resolution MSC.191(79). This standard is organized so that each group of requirements is immediately followed by a clause identifying the method(s) of test.
This IEC standard also addresses the guidelines for the presentation of navigation-related symbols, terms and abbreviations contained in Safety of Navigation circular SN/Circ.243 together with some requirements published in resolution MSC.192(79) on radar; resolution MSC.232(82) on ECDIS; and ergonomic criteria published in circular MSC/Circ.982.
Three Annexes specifically pertain to presentation/display topics:
Annex A - The symbols from SN/Circ.243 are reproduced and expanded upon.
Annex B - The terms and abbreviations from SN/Circ.243 are reproduced and expanded upon.
Annex C - Additional guidance on display and dialogue design from MSC/Circ.982 is provided.
While this IEC standard is primarily intended for shipborne equipment, much of the guidance and display requirements apply to shore-based displays as well. While it may not be necessary to comply with all aspects of this standard, there is benefit in being aware of how navigation-related information is currently displayed onboard vessels.
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