Chart Datum Working Group (CDWG)

“To implement a common reference level in the Baltic Sea”

Photo from the Chart Datum Working Group 13th meeting, 7 September 2021, VTC
Photo: Chart Datum Working Group 13th meeting, 7 September 2021, VTC

The Baltic Sea Chart Datum 2000 (BSCD2000)

The Baltic Sea Chart Datum 2000 (BSCD2000) is a geodetic reference system adopted for Baltic Sea hydrographic surveying, hydrographic engineering, nautical charts and publications. It is based on the definitions for the European Vertical Reference System (EVRS). The height reference surface of BSCD2000 is the equipotential surface of the Earth’s gravity field. The zero level of BSCD2000 is in accordance with the Normaal Amsterdams Peil (NAP). The reference epoch for height and depth changes due to the postglacial land uplift in Fennoscandia is 2000.0. Mean sea level and difference to the old reference datum relative BSCD2000 (pdf, png) currently varies from a few cm at the entrance to maximally approximately 25 cm in the middle of the Baltic Sea.

BSCD2000 is about to be adopted as unified chart datum by all the countries around the Baltic Sea and also agrees with the national height systems used on land. BSCD2000 will facilitate effective use of GNSS methods like GPS, GLONASS and Galileo for accurate navigation and hydrographic surveying in the future. A more detailed specification of the BSCD2000 can be found here.

The Working Group should

Report to the BSHC Conferences.

  1. To continue implementation of the Baltic Sea Chart Datum 2000 (EVRS with land-uplift epoch 2000).
  2. To prepare the road map for transition, including e.g:
    • to establish a network of relevant bodies involved into the transition and efficiently communicate and give guidance within this network
    • to invite relevant bodies to inform the users
    • to review of progress of national plans and actions
    • to propose harmonization actions.
  3. To cooperate with relevant bodies on water level related issues e.g:
    • to promote studies on the validation, status and distribution of water level information, and to promote studies on interpolation and prediction of water levels
    • to promote studies on displaying schemes for joint Baltic Sea water level information
    • to promote studies on recommendations to IHO bodies how the sea level and its variations should be shown on nautical paper and ENC charts and publications, and conveying water level information to mariners [ref. IHO Technical Resolutions].
  4. To support development of a common harmonized height reference, including further development of a common geoid model for the whole Baltic Sea area:
    • to promote geoid computations and gravity measurements in the Baltic sea, as is
      needed to realize the Baltic Sea Chart Datum 2000
    • to coordinate the finalization of the FAMOS Geoid model
    • to support geoid and oceanographic studies relevant to these purposes.
  5. To cooperate with relevant international bodies, for example organizations responsible for delivering water level information (e.g. BOOS and NOOS) and geodetic infrastructure (e.g. EUREF and NKG).
  6. To liaise with relevant IHO bodies and study relevant IHO resolutions and specifications.
  7. To coordinate the implementation of the IHO S-100 products S-104 Water Level Information and S-111 Surface Currents in the Baltic Sea.

Members

Activities

Information about Baltic Sea Chart Datum 2000

Implementation status Baltic Sea Chart Datum 2000 (Questionnaire 2023)

Development of IHO S-100 Products

BOOS products related to CDWG actions

Meetings

TWCWG 9th meeting, November 2024

CDWG 15th meeting, 26-27 March 2024

TWCWG 8th meeting, 19-22 February 2024

BSHC 28th meeting, 19-21 September 2023, Helsinki, Finland

BOOS Annual meeting, 29-31 May 2023, Helsinki, Finland

HSSC 15th meeting, 8-12 May 2023, Helsinki, Finland

CDWG 14th meeting, 28-29 March 2023, Göteborg, Sweden

BSHC-SCG 1st meeting, 15 March 2023, VTC

TWCWG 7th meeting, 28 February – 2 March 2023, VTC

BOOS Annual meeting, 14 December 2022, VTC

CDWG Start-up meeting, 12 October 2022, VTC

TWG 24th meeting, 27 September 2022, VTC

BSHC 27th meeting, 20-22 September 2022, Stockholm, Sweden

NKG meeting, 5-8 September 2022, Copenhagen, Denmark

HSSC 14th meeting, 16-19 May 2022, Bali-VTC

TWCWG 6th meeting, 5-7 April 2022, VTC

BOOS Annual meeting, 24-26 November 2021, VTC

BSHC 26th meeting, 21-23 September 2021, VTC

CDWG 13th meeting, 7 September 2021, VTC

HSSC 13th meeting, 3-7 May 2021, VTC

Kartdagarna, 20-21 April 2021, VTC

TWCWG 5th meeting, 16-18 March 2021, VTC

BOOS Annual meeting, 4-6 November 2020, VTC

HSSC 12th meeting, 19-22 October 2020, VTC

BSHC 25th meeting, 22 September 2020, VTC

NKG meeting, 10-11 March 2020, Reykjavik, Iceland

CDWG 12th meeting, 3-4 March 2020, Gdynia, Poland

TWG 23rd meeting, 5-6 February 2020, Reykjavik, Iceland

BSHC 24th meeting, 10-12 September 2019, Gdansk, Poland

BOOS Annual meeting, 11-13 June 2019, Rostock, Germany

HSSC 11th meeting, 6-9 May 2019, Cape Town, South Africa

TWCWG 4th meeting, 8-11 April 2019, Busan, Korea

NKG meeting, 11-13 March 2019, Lyngby, Denmark

CDWG 11th meeting, 5-6 February 2019, Ålborg, Denmark

BSHC 23rd meeting, 27-29 August 2018, Ålborg, Denmark

CDWG 10th meeting, 7-8 February 2018, Arkö, Sweden

CDWG 9th meeting, 4-5 April 2017, Rostock, Germany

CDWG 8th meeting, 23-24 February 2016, Helsinki, Finland