Real - Time 3 D Nautical Navigational Visualisation

This paper presents a research project suggesting the use of real-time 3D techniques normally used in simulation environments as a navigation aid onboard ships. Based on a three-dimensional geographical database the surrounding world is presented in a “bridgeeye perspective” with navigational information such as own track, other ships in the vicinity and their tracks, water depth and radar echoes integrated in a single display. The integrated display suggested, acts as a complement to traditional electronic charts. The main objective is to lessen the cognitive load of the bridge personal and particularly the helms man in hand steering situations in high-speeds. (See fig. 1.)