Chart Users Survey 2009

2009 CHART USERS SURVEY
The National Ocean Service (NOAA) is responsible for producing and distributing the nautical charting products covering the coastal waterways of the United
States. The information from this survey will be used to better identify the users of NOAA nautical products, to determine the most efficient and economical
way to fulfill the mission of NOAA.
THIS QUESTIONNAIRE IS EASY TO COMPLETE AND WILL ONLY TAKE 15 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME.
YOUR HELP IN THIS SURVEY IS APPRECIATED.

Q.1. Which products and services of NOAA are you aware of? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY
Paper Charts
Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC)
Raster Nautical Charts
Print on Demand
Nautical Chart Users Guide
Co-operative Charting
Pocket Charts
Historical Charts
Coast Pilot
Coastal Map and Vector Shoreline
ENC Direct
National Survey Plan
Bathy/Topo/Shoreline
Now COAST
Tides and Currents
Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS)
On-line catalog
On-line notice to mariners Chart update
On-line Chart viewer
V-Datum
None of these

1(9)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
X
Y
1(10)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Q.2. And which of these activities and services of NOAA have you bought and/or used in the last 12 months?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY
Paper Charts
Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC)
Raster Nautical Charts
Print on Demand
Nautical Chart Users Guide
Co-operative Charting
Pocket Charts
Historical Charts
Coast Pilot
Coastal Map and Vector Shoreline
ENC Direct
National Survey Plan
Bathy/Topo/Shoreline
Now COAST
Tides and Currents
Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS)
On-line catalog
On-line notice to mariners Chart update
On-line Chart viewer
V-Datum
None of these

1(11)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
X
Y
1(12)
2
3
5
6
7
8
9 

Q.3 How satisfied are you with the services provided by NOAA? CHECK ONE ONLY
Very satisfied
Satisfied
Neither satisfied nor Unsatisfied
Unsatisfied
Very unsatisfied

1(13)
2
3
4
5

Q.4. How likely is it that you would recommend a NOAA chart to another mariner to use? CHECK ONE ONLY
6(13)
7
8
9
0

Very likely
Likely
Neither likely nor unlikely
Unlikely
Very unlikely

1 

Q.5. Have you had any of the following contact with NOAA in the last 12 months? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY
Bought a product from a NOAA sales agent in the US
Bought a product from a NOAA sales agent outside the US
Called/emailed NOAA customer services for information
Called NOAA distribution service for information
Placed an order from an online catalog
Received a visit from a NOAA Navigation Manager
Called NOAA Business Offices for information
Downloaded an ENC
Visited the NOAA Website
None of these

1(14)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0

Q.6 How did you find out about NOAA products and services? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY
Recommendation from another mariner
Via a NOAA mailing
Via the NOAA Website
Via a Chart Agent
From NOAA advertising
From a Trade Show
From Professional Training

1(15)
2
3
4
5
6
7

Q.7. Please look at each of the NOAA services listed below and rate each for how satisfied you have been with the services
provided? CHECK ONE FOR EACH

Very Satisfied
Satisfied

Unsatisfied

Very
Unsatisfied

No
Opinion

Quality of products
Quality of services
Timeliness of response to requests
Cost of the products
Helpfulness of NOAA staff
who dealt with you prior and/or after sale
Knowledge of the staff in dealing
with your needs
Clarity and accuracy of responses
from NOAA staff to your questions
Ease in reaching correct NOAA office
to deal with your request
The format of the NOAA data received

(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)

The description of NOAA products and
data in Catalogs and the Website
Overall satisfaction with the services
provided
Overall satisfaction compared with
products and services obtained from a Commercial publisher
Overall satisfaction compared with
products and services from other US Federal Government Agencies
Overall satisfaction compared with
products and services from foreign chart publishers

(26)

(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)

2 

Neither
Satisfied
Nor
Unsatisfied

(27)
(28)
(29)
(30)

Q.8. Some of NOAA’s users have made suggestions to us in this research as to how NOAA can improve its products and
services in the future. Looking at the statements below please indicate for each whether you agree or disagree.
CHECK ONE FOR EACH SERVICE USING THE GRID BELOW

Strongly
Agree

Agree

Neither Agree
nor Disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No
Opinion

NOAA’s products and services have
improved over the last 3 years
NOAA should carry out more surveys
in Ports and Harbors
NOAA should carry out more surveys
in near coast waters
NOAA should carry out more surveys
along US coastlines
NOAA should carry out more surveys
of sailing routes along US coastlines
NOAA Should produce all charts
in metric
I tend to buy Charts published by
Commercial Publishers for additional use for navigation
I tend to feel secure using NOAA
products and services
I tend to feel secure using Charts
published by Commercial Publishers
There should be a increase in chart
editions
There should be an increase in
ENC coverage

(31)
(32)
(33)
(34)
(35)
(36)
(37)
(38)
(39)
(40)
(41)

Q.9 Which of the following are closest to your experience regards Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs)?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY
They are better than paper charts
The additional information makes them more difficult to use
The additional information makes them more useful
I would pay for the Electronic Navigational Charts
and updates
I prefer to get the Electronic Navigational Charts for
free online without service included
I need to learn more about how to use
Electronic Navigational Charts
ENCs have more information if you click on features

1 (42)
2
3
4
5
7
8

Q.10 Do you supplement NOAA Charts (paper or electronic) with commercially published Charts?
Yes always
Yes sometimes
No not at all

1 (43)
2
3

IF YOU CHECKED ‘YES ALWAYS OR SOMETIMES’ AT Q.10 GO TO Q.11. IF YOU CHECKED ‘NO’ AT Q.10 GO TO Q.12
Q.11 What are your reasons for purchasing non NOAA published charts – that is Charts published by other Governments
and Commercial publishers? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY
The content/information on the chart
The price of the chart
The chart coverage area
The chart publisher
The suite of charts available from the publisher
The size of the chart
The way the material is presented on the chart
I prefer the chart I was trained on at maritime
school/chart class
The most up to date chart
A book of Charts is more value for money
The Chart is readily available

3 

1 (44)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
Y

Q.12 Which of the following NOAA charts do you prefer? CHECK ONE ONLY
NOAA paper charts
NOAA raster nautical charts
NOAA print on demand charts
NOAA ele ctronic navigational charts (ENC)

1 (45)
2
3
4

Q.13 Have you ever downloaded a Nautical Chart from the NOAA Website?
1 (46)
2
3

Yes
No
Cannot remember

Q.14 Would you say that you are sailing more, the same or less in US waters than you were….
1 year ago, 3 years ago and 5 years ago? CHECK ONE FOR EACH YEAR
More

Less

Same

One year ago
Three years ago
Five years ago

1-3 (47)
4-7
8-0

Q.15 Would you say that you are sailing more, the same or less in International waters than you were….
1 year ago, 3 years ago and 5 years ago? CHECK ONE FOR EACH YEAR
More

Less

Same
1-3 (48)
4-7
8-0

One year ago
Three years ago
Five years ago

Q.16 Which of these would you prefer for Nautical publication (Coast Pilot) information?
In an ECDIS environment that is integrated
with Chart Content, including all ECDIS functionality
As a digital stand alone application
As a paper book format
On line or print on demand

4 

1(49)
2
3
4

Q.17

Below there are some statements which Chart users have made about their use of Charts. Please answer each
one by indicating whether you agree or disagree by using the grid.

Strongly
Agree

Agree

Neither Agree
nor Disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

The current economic climate means
that I am making less trips than last year
The current economic climate means that
I will sail less in future, but still buy as many Charts as last year
The current economic climate means that
I will sail less and also buy fewer Charts than last year
I find it difficult to buy paper NOAA Charts
in the waters I sail in
I find it difficult to buy paper NOAA Charts
when I am sailing in non-US waters
In the last 12 months I have not changed
the routes/or places I sail to, so it has been
sufficient for me to update the Charts I bought last year/two years ago
I would buy paper Charts direct from
NOAA if I got a better discount as other publishers’ Charts are cheaper
I tend to rely on an electronic chart and
paper chart updates, rather than buying new paper Charts
I tend to update my paper Charts until
they are difficult to read and then I buy a new paper Chart
As a result of the current economic
climate I am more likely to download a Free Chart from the NOAA or another website
I am buying fewer paper Charts than
in the past as I now download free Charts on-line.

(50)
(51)
(52)
(53)
(54)
(55)

(56)
(57)
(58)
(59)
(60)

Q.18. How long have you been a professional, commercial or recreational mariner?
CHECK ONE AS APPROPRIATE YEARS
Professional

Commercial

Less than 2 years
2 to 5 years
6 to 10 years
11 to 15 years
16 to 20 years
21 to 25 years
Over 25 years

Recreational
1 - 3(61)
4–6
7–9
0–Y
1 – 3(62)
4–6
7–9

5 

No
Opinion

THE FOLLOWING FOUR QUESTIONS RELATE TO THE USE OF ELECTRONIC CHART DISPLAY AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS (ECDIS). If you do not use ECDIS please go to queston 21 
Q.19. If Hydrographic survey quality areas could be portrayed with the Starred Symbol (as shown in A) or the Year of the survey
and the Zone of Confidence level (CATZOC) (as shown in B). Which of these would you prefer?
A Starred Symbol
B Year and CATZOC
C No opinion

1(63)
2
3

A: Starred Symbol

B: Year and CATZOC

Q.20. There are two types of ECDIS Buoy symbology– Traditional as in A and Simplified as in B. Which do you prefer?
A Traditional
B Simplified
C No opinion

1(64)
2
3

A: Traditional

B: Simplified

Q.20a) Which ECDIS color palette do you prefer to use to navigate at night?
1 (65)
2
3

A
B
C

Q.20b)

How often do you navigate at night?

A:

B:

C:

Regularly
Sometimes
Never

1(66
2
3

THE FOLLOWING TWO QUESTIONS RELATE TO THE USE OF PAPER AND RASTER CHARTS.
Q.21 Looking at the Charts in A and B, A is Major roads with landmark buildings and B is Street networks with landmark buildings.
Which do you prefer?

1(67)
A Major roads with landmark buildings
B Street networks with landmark buildings
2
3 
C No opinion
A: Major roads with landmark buildings

B: Street networks with landmark buildings

Q.22 Looking at the Charts shown in A and B, A is Spot elevations without topographic contours and B is Spot elevations
with topographic contours. Which do you prefer?
A: Spot elevations without topographic contours
B: Spot elevations with topographic contours
C: No preference

1(68)
2
3
A: Spot Elevations Without Contours

6 

B: Spot Elevations With Contours

If you answered Q.22 “B.Spot Elevations With Contours”, please answer  Q.22a. Others go to Q.23

Q.22a Why do you prefer topographic contours on a nautical chart?
Used for visual location
Used for predicting winds
Used for going ashore
Contours are an indicator of
overall chart quality
Charts without contours look incomplete
Radar ranging
Visually appealing

1(69)
2
3
4
5
6
7

Q.23 What is your primary use of NOAA products or services? CHECK ONE ONLY
Commercial Navigation
Recreational Navigation
Scientific Research
Educational studies
Reference/Library use
Legal use
General information

1(70)
2
3
4
5
6
7

Q.24 Which type of vessel do you operate, work on or sail? CHECK ONE ONLY
Powerboat (Recreational)
Sail Boat (Recreational)
Fishing Boat
Container Ship
General Cargo Ship
Tanker
Bulk Carrier
Passenger Vessel (Ferry or Cruise ship)
Tug Boat
Crewboat /Workboat
Naval or Coast Guard Vessel
Not applicable to my use of Charts

1(71)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
X
Y

Q.25 What type of Recreational Boat do you own?
1(72)
2
3
4
5
6
9
0

Cruiser
Fishing
Runabout
PWC
Houseboat
Trawler
Sail
Do not own
Q.26 What is your prime use for a Recreational Boat?

1(73)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Cruising
Racing
Fishing
Skiing
Scuba
Entertaining
Personal use and charter
Other (Write in)
Q.27 When did you purchase your Recreational Boat?

1(74)
2
3
4

Within the last year
Within the last five years
Within the last 10 years
More than 10 years ago

7 

Q.28 Please indicate if you belong to any of the following organizations:
1(75)
2
3
4
5
6
7

USPS
USCG Auxiliary
US Sailing
B.A.S.S
Local Yacht club/Fishing Club
Other Boating Fishing organization
Master and Mates Union
BoatUS
Q.29 Where do you primarily Boat?

1(76)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
X
Y
1 (77)

Atlantic Ocean Bays and Tributaries
Pacific Ocean Bays and Tributaries
Florida
Gulf of Mexico
Chesapeake Bay and Tributaries
Puget Sound
Great Lakes
Inland Freshwater Rivers and Lakes
Canada
The Bahamas
Mexico
Pacific Ocean
Alaska
Other international waters
Other (Write in)
Q.29

Please indicate in which age group you fall:
1(78)
2
3
4
5
6
7

Under 25
25-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60 – 69
70 or above 

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS REQUESTED BUT NOT REQUIRED. IT WILL HELP US IN
CONDUCTING OUR STATISTICAL ANALYSIS.

Your name:………………………………………………………………………………………………
Your Job Title:…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Your Organisation:……………………………………………………………………………………..
Your Address:…………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Tel: ( )
Fax:( ) E-Mail:……………………….
Are you interested in taking part in future research completed by NOAA?
Yes
No

1 (79)
2

Are you interested in receiving a Summary of the Research?
Yes
No

1
2

Space to (80)

THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS INFORMATION IN THE SURVEY

OMB Control No.0648 – 0342 Expires 12/31/2011

8 

Paperwork Reduction Act Information:
In accordance with Executive Order 12862, the National Performance Review, and good management practices, NOAA offices seek to determine whether their customers are satisfied with the services/products
they are receiving and whether they have suggestions as to how the services/products may be improved or made more useful. The information will be used to improve NOAA’s products and services.
Responses to this survey are completely voluntary. No confidentiality can be provided for responses, but you need not supply your name and address. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average 10 minutes per response. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to John
Nyberg, CIO-PPA1, Station 9823, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a
penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.