The Coast Survey was commended for its leadership role in the development of large format, full color, variable data, and on-demand printing technology and then transferring that technology for commercialization by means of a CRADA.

This year only 22 awards were given by the distinguished panel of technology transfer experts from industry, state and local government, academia, and the federal laboratory system. 

The Office of Coast Survey would like to acknowledge its partners in this work. Software Performance Systems, Inc., of Arlington, VA, does the sophisticated E-Commerce software development.
OceanGrafix, L.L.C., of St. Paul, MN, is the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement partner for the cutting edge, Print-on-Demand technology.

Nautical charts are the fundamental tool of marine navigation.  Hundreds of critical chart changes occurring each week need to be applied, charts manufactured, and then efficiently and quickly distributed by chart retailers to mariners.  These Office of Coast Survey updated charts are offered to the mariner under the Charts-on-Demand OceanGrafix brand name.

Unique amongst the world's hydrographic offices, these charts provide the mariner the absolutely up-to-date information critical to safe navigation.  The Office of Coast Survey uses a rules-driven, flexible manufacturing system triggered by an electronic commerce front end.  The system identifies image elements and assembles them for printing on large format plotters.  Digital asset management tools assist the Office of Coast Survey with continuous maintenance of the nautical chart files.  Charts are only printed when ordered using the up-to-date files.  The technology also enables customization of each chart to specific mariner, vessel, ship company, or industry needs.