The Geographic Information Sciences Center (GISC) at the University of California is engaged in developing mapping technologies to support education and the Coast Guard's Regional Exam Center (REC) needs to develop new pilot chart sketch examinations and grading overlays and/or equivalent methods that improve process efficiency and allow the integration of the results of the exams into the applicants' records.
Currently, most pilot's exam charts are individually hand drawn shore outlines using an onion-skin type overlay paper [i.e., lightweight vellum]. These tracings are then normally reproduced as needed for the examinations. A few have been put on Mylar plastic with the chart name/number information included and a small number have been created from the electronic chart information available on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website.
The difficulty lies in that various RECs have different methods of administering pilot chart sketch examinations. The degree of detail and the extent to which navigational information is included on charts is not consistent from office to office. Exam charts tend to be simple tracings of the shoreline and lack content such as scale, mileage legends, reference points, and compass roses showing true north. Similarly, there is no standardized guidance for grading the exams. Furthermore, current technology is not used to create exam charts for use by applicants taking the exams and/or chart overlays (or other means) for use by the REC staff in grading exams.
The GISC will work with NOAA to develop efficient internet access to NOAA's updated vector database for use in creating the examinations and to develop and document information about how the information is stored and how the various layers may be turned on or off and manipulated for the purposes of this project. The GISC will create the capability for REC San Francisco to make pilot's examination Nautical Charts and grading aids. The GISC will also create an area chart for REC San Francisco showing its pilotage routes and Limited Operater of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) routes. The GISC will then install the end product on Coast Guard workstations and/or network at REC San Francisco.
Principal Investigator:
John Radke
Contact Information:
Tel: 510.643.5995
Fax: 510.643.3412
email: ratt@gisc.berkeley.edu
Funding Information:
USCG Sector San Francisco
Start Date: 6/1/07
