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Nautical Graph Toolkit

Welcome to the Nautical Graph Toolkit - A comprehensive maritime analysis platform for converting NOAA S-57 Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) into analysis-ready geospatial formats, generating intelligent maritime routing networks, and performing advanced vessel route optimization.

What It Does

Convert ENC data • Build maritime routing networks • Optimize vessel passages

This toolkit transforms raw S-57 chart data into production-ready geospatial databases and intelligent routing graphs for maritime route planning, obstacle avoidance, and vessel-specific path optimization.

🗺️ Real-World Use Cases

  • Route Planning: Generate optimal vessel passages considering draft, height, and vessel type constraints
  • Obstacle Avoidance: Identify restricted zones, shallow water, and navigation hazards from ENC data
  • Port Analysis: Integrate 15,000+ ports from the World Port Index with custom data
  • Chart Management: Keep your local ENC database synchronized with live NOAA updates
  • Maritime Research: Build spatial networks for maritime logistics optimization
  • Compliance: Generate vessel-specific routes respecting international waterway regulations

🚀 Key Features

📦 Multi-Format S-57 Conversion

  • S57Base: High-performance bulk conversion (100+ ENCs in minutes)
  • S57Advanced: Feature-level conversion with ENC source attribution and batch processing
  • S57Updater: Incremental, transactional updates for PostGIS

💾 Multi-Backend Storage

Choose your backend based on scale:

  • PostGIS (1000+ ENCs) - Server-based, optimized
  • GeoPackage (100-1000 ENCs) - Portable, single-file
  • SpatiaLite (<500 ENCs) - Lightweight, minimal setup

🛣️ Three Maritime Routing Networks

  1. BaseGraph - Coarse 0.3 NM navigation grid
  2. FineGraph - Progressive 0.02-0.3 NM refinement
  3. H3Graph - Hexagonal grids with multi-resolution support

🎯 Intelligent Route Optimization

  • 3-Tier Weighting System: Static (terrain), directional (current/wind), dynamic (traffic)
  • Vessel Constraints: Draft restrictions, air clearance, vessel type
  • A* Pathfinding: Fast optimal route computation
  • Route Export: GeoJSON format for GIS visualization

📊 Performance

Production Benchmarks (47 S-57 ENCs, SF Bay to LA route):

Configuration Backend Time Nodes Use Case
FINE 0.2nm PostGIS 7.3 min 46K Fast prototyping
FINE 0.1nm PostGIS 21.3 min 184K Production routing ⭐
H3 Hexagonal PostGIS 106.6 min 894K Research/Analysis

Key Finding: PostGIS is 2.0-2.4× faster than GeoPackage across all modes.

View Full Benchmarks →

🚀 Get Started in 3 Steps

1. Install

git clone https://github.com/studentdotai/Nautical-Graph-Toolkit.git
cd Nautical-Graph-Toolkit
mamba env create -f environment.yml && mamba activate nautical
pip install uv && uv pip install --no-deps -r requirements.txt && uv pip install -e .

Full installation guide →

2. Build a Graph

from nautical_graph_toolkit.core.graph import FineGraph

# Create and build the graph
graph = FineGraph(
    db_path="maritime.gpkg",
    fine_spacing_nm=0.1  # 0.1 nautical mile resolution
)
graph.build()

# Find optimal route with vessel constraints
route = graph.find_route(
    start=(33.74, -118.21),      # Long Beach
    end=(37.81, -122.41),        # San Francisco
    vessel_draft=8.5,            # meters
    vessel_height=45.0           # meters
)

# Export to GeoJSON
graph.export_route_geojson(route, "route.geojson")

3. Visualize

Import the GeoJSON in QGIS or your preferred GIS tool.

Full Setup Guide →

📚 Documentation

🗺️ Roadmap

Current Status: v0.1.5 Released ✅

Near-term (v0.2.0):

  • PyPI distribution
  • Security audit & API documentation
  • Docker/Kubernetes support
  • CI/CD with >80% test coverage

Long-term:

  • QGIS 4.0 Plugin Integration
  • Time-dependent routing with tidal currents
  • ML-powered traffic prediction

💼 License & Support

License: AGPL-3.0 - Free for research, commercial use, and modification

🙏 Acknowledgments

  • NOAA ENC Data: Electronic Navigational Charts
  • World Port Index: From National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
  • GDAL/OGR: Open-source geospatial data library
  • NetworkX: Network analysis and graph algorithms
  • PostGIS: Spatial database extension for PostgreSQL

Built with geospatial data and maritime expertise for the modern navigator. ⚓