We have several articles on the role of objects and attributes as used in electronic navigational charts (ENC). Background articles are listed at the end here. In each of these, when it came to the nuts and bolts of this topic, we had to punt, so everyone would not fall asleep. Here is where such a punt might land, namely we take a look at one ENC object, Landmarks, and the primary attributes that ENC include or might include. The object definition is:
Landmark, A prominent object at a fixed location which can be used in determining a location or a direction (adapted from IHO Dictionary, S-32, 5th Edition, 2643).
This object has many attributes because it has such a broad definition. We list here just the primary ones. Among those not listed are: its height (HEIGHT), which is above MHW; we could measure that with a sextant (top of the object to the waterline below it) to get distance off. This is not to be confused with its elevation (ELEVAT) which is above MSL, nor with its actual height above the ground, called its vertical length (VERLEN). The attributes marked * are the only actual required ones, but landmarks typically include Function as well. If more than one color is specified, then the color pattern must also be given, which is indicated by the #
A radio tower would be a landmark with category = tower (17) and function = radio (31); if visually conspicuous, its symbol would be a black outline, else it would be brown. The US only plots a few of the non-conspicuous landmarks, but other nations do a lot more in theirs.
Landmark symbols on an ENC
The main takeaway here is the ENC can include a lot more information than the corresponding paper chart does, although not all of the known information is encoded at present. This is where mariners can help by reporting new or outdated information to NOAA. The charts are updated weekly.
Below are the options are for the primary attributes of object Landmark.
| Object | Attributes |
| Landmark | *Category, *Conspicuous visually, Function, Color, #Color pattern, Status, Condition, Conspicuous radar |
| LNDMRK | CATLAM, CONVIS, FUNCTN, COLOUR, COLPAT, STATUS, CONDTN, CONRAD |
| CATLAM | Category of the landmark |
| 1 | cairn: a mound of stones, usually conical or pyramidal, raised as a landmark or to designate a point of importance in surveying. (IHO Dictionary, S-32, 5th Edition, 601) |
| 2 | cemetery: an area of land for burying the dead. |
| 3 | chimney: a vertical structure containing a passage or flue for discharging smoke and gases. (Digital Geographic Information Standard - DIGEST) |
| 4 | dish aerial: a parabolic aerial for the receipt and transmission of high frequency radio signals. (IHO Dictionary, S-32, 5th Edition, 1400) |
| 5 | flagstaff (flagpole): a staff or pole on which flags are raised. (Digital Geographic Information Standard -DIGEST 1.28) |
| 6 | flare stack: a tall structure used for burning-off waste oil or gas. (IHO Dictionary, S-32, 5th Edition, 1836). Normally showing a flame and located at refineries (IHO Chart specifications, S-4). |
| 7 | mast: a straight vertical piece of timber or a hollow cylinder. (adapted from Digital Geographic Information Standard - DIGEST) |
| 8 | wind sock: a tapered fabric sleeve mounted so as to catch and swing with the wind, thus indicating the wind direction. (Navigation dictionary, US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA, 1969) |
| 9 | monument: a structure erected or maintained as a memorial to a person or event. (Digital Geographic Information Standard - DIGEST) |
| 10 | column (pillar): a cylindrical or slightly tapering body of considerably greater length than diameter erected vertically. (Oxford English Dictionary) |
| 11 | memorial plaque: a slab of metal, usually ornamented, erected as a memorial to a person or event. |
| 12 | obelisk: a tapering shaft usually of stone or concrete, square or rectangular in section, with a pyramidal apex. (Adapted from Oxford English Dictionary) |
| 13 | statue: a representation of a human, animal or fantasy figure in marble, bronze, etc. |
| 14 | cross: a monument, or other structure in form of a cross. (Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary) |
| 15 | dome: a landmark comprising a hemispherical or spheroidal shaped structure (adapted from the Macquarie Dictionary). |
| 16 | radar scanner: a device used for directing a radar beam through a search pattern (adapted from Navigation Dictionary, US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -NOAA, 1969) |
| 17 | tower: a relatively tall structure which may be used for observation, support, storage or communication etc. (Digital Geographic Information Working Group -DGIWG, Oct. 1987) |
| 18 | windmill: a wind driven system of vanes attached to a tower like structure (excluding wind-generated power plants). (Digital Geographic Information Standard - DIGEST) |
| 19 | windmotor: a modern structure for the use of windpower. (IHO Chart Specifications, S-4) |
| 20 | spire/minaret: a tall conical or pyramid-shaped structure often built on the roof or tower of a building, especially a church or mosque. (adapted from The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 21 | large rock or boulder on land: an isolated rocky formation or a single large stone (IHO Dictionary, S-32, 5th Edition 4415) |
| 22 | rock pinnacle: high tower or spire-shaped pillar of rock, alone or cresting a summit (adapted from IHO Dictionary, S-32, 5th Edition 3852) |
| CONVIS | Conspicuous, visually |
| 1 | visually conspicuous: term applied to an object either natural or artificial which is distinctly and notably visible from seaward. (IHO Dictionary, S-32, 5th Edition, 984) |
| 2 | not visually conspicuous: an object which is visible from seaward, but is not conspicuous. |
| FUNCTN | Function of the landmark |
| 1 | No function / service of major interest: |
| 2 | harbour-master's office: the office of the local official who has charge of mooring and berthing of vessels, collecting harbour fees, etc. (adapted from IHO Dictionary, S-32, 5th Edition, 2191) |
| 3 | customs office: an office which is charged with enforcing customs regulations. |
| 4 | health office: the office which is charged with the administration of health laws and sanitary inspections. (adapted from The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 5 | hospital: an institution or establishment providing medical or surgical treatment for the ill or wounded. (The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 6 | post office: the public department, agency or organisation responsible primarily for the collection, transmission and distribution of mail. (The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 7 | hotel: an establishment, especially of a comfortable or luxurious kind, where paying visitors are provided with accommodation, meals and other services. (The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 8 | railway station: a building with platforms where trains arrive, load, discharge and depart. (The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 9 | police station: the office of the local police force. |
| 10 | water-police station: the headquarters of a local water-police force. |
| 11 | pilot office: the office or headquarters of pilots; the place where the services of a pilot may be obtained. (IHO Dictionary, S-32, 5th Edition, 3845) |
| 12 | pilot lookout: a distinctive structure on shore from which personnel keep watch upon events at sea or along the coast. (IHO Dictionary, S-32, 5th Edition, 2917) |
| 13 | bank office: an office for custody, deposit, loan, exchange or issue of money. (adapted from The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 14 | headquarters for district control: the quarters of an executive officer (director, manager, etc.) with responsibility for an administrative area. |
| 15 | transit shed/warehouse: a building or part of a building for storage of wares or goods. (adapted from The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 16 | factory: a building or buildings with equipment for manufacturing; a workshop. (The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 17 | power station: a stationary plant containing apparatus for large scale conversion of some form of energy (such as hydraulic, steam, chemical or nuclear energy) into electrical energy. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 3rd Edition, 1984) |
| 18 | administrative: a building for the management of affairs. (adapted from The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 19 | educational facility: a building concerned with education (eg. school, college, university, etc.) |
| 20 | church: a building for public Christian worship. (The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 21 | chapel: a place for Christian worship other than a parish, cathedral or church, especially one attached to a private house or institution. (The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 22 | temple: a building for public Jewish worship. (adapted from The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 23 | pagoda: a Hindu or Buddhist temple or sacred building. (The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 24 | shinto shrine: a building for public Shinto worship. (adapted from The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 25 | buddhist temple: see pagoda. |
| 26 | mosque: a Muslim place of worship. (The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 27 | marabout: a shrine marking the burial place of a Muslim holy man. (The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 28 | lookout: keeping a watch upon events at sea or along the coast. (adapted from IHO Dictionary, S-32,5th Edition,2917) |
| 29 | communication: transmitting and/or receiving electronic communication signals. (adapted from Digital Geographic Information Standard - DIGEST) |
| 30 | television: broadcast of television signals. |
| 31 | radio: broadcast of radio signals. |
| 32 | radar: a method, system or technique of using beamed, reflected, and timed radio waves for detecting, locating, or tracking objects, and for measuring altitudes. (IHO Dictionary, S-32, 5th Edition,4158) |
| 33 | light support: supporting a light |
| 34 | microwave: broadcasting and receiving signals using microwaves. |
| 35 | cooling: dissipating heat. |
| 36 | observation: a place from which the surroundings can be observed but at which a watch is not habitually maintained. (adapted from IHO Dictionary, S-32, 5th Edition,2917) |
| 37 | time ball: a visual time signal in form of a ball |
| 38 | clock: visual time signal. (adapted from S-32, 5th Edition, 5536) |
| 39 | control: used to control the flow of air, rail, or marine traffic. (Digital Geographic Information Standard - DIGEST) |
| 40 | airship mooring: a facility to secure an airship. (adapted from Digital Geographic Information Standard - DIGEST) |
| 41 | stadium: a large usually unroofed building with tiers of seats for spectators |
| 42 | bus station: a location at which buses arrive and from which they depart. |
| COLOUR | Color of landmark |
| 1 | white |
| 2 | black |
| 3 | red |
| 4 | green |
| 5 | blue |
| 6 | yellow |
| 7 | grey |
| 8 | brown |
| 9 | amber |
| 10 | violet |
| 11 | orange |
| 12 | magenta |
| 13 | pink |
| COLPAT | Color pattern |
| 1 | horizontal stripes: straight bands or stripes of differing colours painted horizontally. |
| 2 | vertical stripes: straight bands or stripes of differing colours painted vertically. |
| 3 | diagonal stripes: straight bands or stripes of differing colours painted diagonally (ie not horizontally or vertically). |
| 4 | squared: often referred to as checker plate, where alternate colours are used to create squares similar to a chess or draught board. The pattern may be straight or diagonal. |
| 5 | stripes (direction unknown): straight bands or stripes of differing colours painted in an unknown direction. |
| 6 | border stripe: a band or stripe of colour which is displayed around the outer edge of the object, which may also form a border to an inner pattern or plain colour. |
| CONDTN | Condition of the landmark |
| 1 | under construction: a structure that is in the process of being built. |
| 2 | ruined: a structure in a decayed or deteriorated condition resulting from neglect or disuse, or a damaged structure in need of repair. (IHO Dictionary, S-32, 5th Edition, 4456) |
| 3 | under reclamation: an area of the sea that is being reclaimed as land, usually by the dumping of earth and other material. |
| 4 | wingless: a windmill or windmotor from which the turbine blades are missing. |
| 5 | planned construction: an area where a future construction is planned. |
| STATUS | Status of landmark |
| 1 | permanent: intended to last or function indefinitely. (The Concise Oxford Dictionary, 7th Edition) |
| 2 | occasional: acting on special occasions; happening irregularly. (The Concise Oxford Dictionary, 7th Edition) |
| 3 | recommended: presented as worthy of confidence, acceptance, use, etc. (The Macquarie Dictionary, 1988) |
| 4 | not in use: no longer used for the purpose intended; disused. |
| 5 | periodic/intermittent: recurring at intervals. (The Concise Oxford Dictionary, 7th Edition) |
| 6 | reserved: set apart for some specific use. (adapted from The Concise Oxford Dictionary, 7th Edition) |
| 7 | temporary: meant to last only for a time. (The Concise Oxford Dictionary) |
| 8 | private: not in public ownership or operation. |
| 9 | mandatory: compulsory; enforced. (The Concise Oxford Dictionary, 7th Edition) |
| 10 | |
| 11 | extinguished: no longer lit illuminated: lit by floodlights, strip lights, etc. |
| 12 | illuminated: lit by floodlights, strip lights, etc. |
| 13 | historic: famous in history; of historical interest. (The Concise Oxford Dictionary, 7th Edition) |
| 14 | public: belonging to, available to, used or shared by, the community as a whole and not restricted to private use. (adapted from The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 15 | synchronized: occur at a time, coincide in point of time, be contemporary or simultaneous. (The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 16 | watched: looked at or observed over a period of time especially so as to be aware of any movement or change. (adapted from The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1993) |
| 17 | un-watched: usually automatic in operation, without any permanently-stationed personnel to superintend it. (adapted from IHO Dictionary, S-32, 5th Edition, 2814) |
| 18 | existence doubtful: an object that has been reported but has not been definitely determined to exist. |
| CONRAD | Conspicuous by radar |
| 1 | radar conspicuous: an object which returns a strong radar echo. (IHO Dictionary, S-32, 5th Edition, 4142) |
| 2 | not radar conspicuous: an object which does not return a particularly strong radar echo. |
| 3 | radar conspicuous (has radar reflector): an object which returns a strong radar echo, having a radar reflector. |
Background articles include:
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