The basic difference between the raster chart and vector chart is the way they are rendered.
Vector Chart
View
- Scanned Image: Raster Chart is the “photographic image” or scanned image of Paper Chart.
- From Paper to Pixels: Vector Chart, also called ENC Chart is the Pixeled Image of paper chart
- Being a scanned copy, these charts are one image and cannot be broken in parts
- ENC Charts has its own look on ECDIS Display and due to layering of information there is less cluttering.
- As looks exactly like paper chart, Vector Charts get cluttered on ECDIS Display.
- In Vector Charts each point is defined electronically.
Memory
Raster Charts takes a lot of memory on data storage. In MBs
Vector Charts takes less memory compared to Raster Charts. In KBs
Edit Information
User can add information, do plotting and all the work that he can do.
Interrogation
- Interrogation for more information is not possible
- Interrogation for more information is possible
Layering
In Raster Chart, the chart is available in one layer.
In ENCs, the charts are multi-layered. Total 11 layers are available for users to play with.
Integration with other equipment
Integration with other equipment like RADAR and ARPA Overlay, GPS Positioning on both Raster and Vector Chart is possible.
Usage
With approval from IMO, Raster Charts can only be used as back-up charts.
Vector Charts are being used on ECDIS
Display Customization
- Being scanned copy of paper charts, Raster Charts cannot be customized.
- Presentation will always be North Up.
- User sees all the data, elimination of any information is not possible.
- Display is customizable.
- Any presentation is possible.
- User can hide unwanted information from display.