Marine Mapping Industry
Glossary of Terms

AGD Australian Geodetic Datum
ARCS Admiralty Raster Chart Service
COMAUSNAVHMGRP Commander Australian Navy Hydrographic, Meteorological, and Oceanographic Group
DGPS Differential Global Positioning System
DGST Deployable Geospatial Support Team (formerly known as Hydrographic Office Deployable Survey Unit [HODSU])
DHDB Digital Hydrographic Database
DNC Digital Nautical Chart
ECDIS Electronic Chart Display and Information System
ECS Electronic Chart System
ENC Electronic Navigational Chart
GDA Geocentric Datum of Australia
GeoTIFF Geographic Tagged Image File Format—The Australian Hydrographic Service produces charts in a GeoTIFF format known as Seafarer GeoTIFF
GPS Global Positioning System—A positioning system calculated from orbiting satellites
HAT Highest Astronomical Tide—A tidal datum representing the highest level of water that can be predicted to occur under any combination of astronomical conditions
HCRF Hydrographic Chart Raster Format—The data format used for Seafarer Raster Nautical Charts (RNCs)
HI Hydrographic Instruction
Hydrographic Note A form used to notify the hydrographer when new or suspected dangers to navigation are discovered, changes in navigational aids are observed, or corrections to publications are seen to be necessary
HMFEG Hydrographic, Meteorological, and Oceanographic Force Element Group
HS Hydrographic Ship
IC-ENC International Centre for Electronic Navigational Charts—An association of national hydrographic organizations for the distribution of official Electronic Navigational Charts; the IC-ENC is a Regional ENC (or RENC)
IHB International Hydrographic Bureau—The headquarters of the International Hydrographic Organization
IHO International Hydrographic Organization—The organization that coordinates world hydrographic charting policies and standards
IMO International Maritime Organization—The United Nations organization that coordinates safety policy and standards for world shipping
ISLW Indian Springs Low Water—A tidal datum originated by Sir George Darwin when he was investigating the tides of India; it refers to an elevation depressed below mean sea level by the amount equal to the sum of the amplitudes of the four main harmonic constituents: M2, S2, K1, and O1
ISPS International Ship and Port Facility Security
IT Information Technology
LADS Laser Airborne Depth Sounder
LAT Lowest Astronomical Tide—A tidal datum; refers to the lowest tide level that can be predicted to occur under average meteorological conditions and under any combination of astronomical conditions. It is increasingly being used as chart datum, for example, for all new Australian charts.
MGI Military Geospatial Information
NTM Notice to Mariners
RCDS Raster Chart Display System
RNC Raster Nautical Chart
S57 The International Hydrographic Organization data format and specification that governs the content, creation, and display of Electronic Navigational Charts
S63 The International Hydrographic Organization data-security standard for the protection of Electronic Navigational Chart information
SA South Australia
SMB Survey Motor Boat
SML Survey Motor Launch
SOLAS Safety of Life at Sea Convention—The principal international convention regulating ship safety; administered by the International Maritime Organization
UT Universal Time—Also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and Zulu Time (a military term)
VTS Vessel Traffic Service System
WEND Worldwide Electronic Navigational Chart Database
WGS World Geodetic System

Contact Marine Solutions

Dejan Damjanovic
Marine Solutions Program Manager
Phone: 303.254.2323
Mobile: 303.817.0226
E-mail: