According to the Terms of Reference the list of members is containing the Core Group, Members and Participants.

Based on the findings of the European transport R&D project INDRIS (Inland Navigation Demonstrator for River Information Services) and the German project ARGO in 2001, both the Danube and the Rhine Commissions adopted an Inland Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) standard for Inland Electronic Navigational Chart (IENC) data and system requirements for the Rhine and the Danube Rivers. In 2001, the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations (UNECE) adopted the Inland ECDIS Standard as a recommendation for the European inland waterway system. The Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine (CCNR) followed in 2002. In 2003 the European R&D-project COMPRIS (Consortium Operational Management Platform River Information Services) organized a North American - European Inland ENC Workshop. One key objective was to discuss the benefits of harmonizing Inland ENC data standards between Europe and North America. The Inland ENC Harmonization Group (IEHG) was formed in 2003 to facilitate the development of international standards for Inland ENC data.

If you are not a registered user you will find instructions how to get access to the discussion forum in the following document:

The Inland ENC Harmonization Group (IEHG) provides a presentation about:

1. Inland waterways

2. Why are ENCs not sufficient? (voyage planning)

3. Definition of Inland ENC

4. S-100 approach

5. New and copied features, attributes, enumerations

6. Encoding Guide for Inland ENCs

7. Usages and overlays

8. Product Specification for Inland ENCs

9. Depth data and water levels

10. IEHG and IHO

11. Regulatory status

12. Coverage

13. Users of Inland ENCs

The presentation is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and German.

There is also a guideline for the development of new symbols for S-401 and an example for an annex to a change request that contains new symbols:

If you aren't a registered user you will find instructions how to get access to the discussion forum in the following document:

Referenced official papers

All official papers which are mentioned as references in the Encoding Guide and Feature Catalogue are published at following web-pages:

• NORMAN-17 - NORMAS DA AUTORIDADE MARÍTIMA PARA AUXÍLIOS À NAVEGAÇÃO

Standardized water level exchange format

The IEHG has agreed upon a standardized data exchange format for detailed water level information that can be used by applications to display the actual water depth or for voyage planning. A precondition is the encoding of the depth in accordance with I.1.2 of the Encoding Guide for Inland ENCs:

Recommended validation checks for Inland ENCs

IEHG has also developed "Recommended validation checks for Inland ENCs". The following editions are available:

• Recommended validation checks for Inland ENCs 1.1 (based on S-58 Edition 4.2 and Edition 2.1 of Inland ENCs)

• Recommended validation checks for Inland ENCs 2.3 corr1 (based on S-58 Edition 4.2 and Edition 2.3 of inland ENCs)

• Recommended Validation checks for Inland ENCs 2.4 rev1 (based on S-58 Edition 6.0.0 and Edition 2.4 of Inland ENCs). This version will get an official status after testing

• Recommended Validation checks for Inland ENCs 2.5.1 (based on S-58 Edition 6.0.0 and Edition 2.5 of Inland ENCs). The draft version of edition 2.5 has been tested and some corrections have been made. This edition 2.5.1 has been adopted by IEHG.

• Edition 2.5.1 contained some typos (check 1641: umtroc instead of uwtroc, check 1669: logical instead of illogical, check 1752: SEGSEQ instead of SIGSEQ, check 1806: nor intead of not, check i1504: flodoc instead of gatcon, check i1523: equal to instead of Equal to, check i1548: Wrecks intead of WRECKS). These typos have been corrected in the following version.

Recommended Validation Checks for Inland ENCs 2.6 (based on S-58 Edition 6.0.0 and Edition 2.6 of Inland ENCs).

Recommended Validation Checks for Inland ENCs 2.6.1 (based on S-58 Edition 8.0.0 and Edition 2.6 of Inland ENCs).

• The following Excel sheet is providing an overview of the minimum content of Inland ENCs. It has been the basis for version 2.3.5 of the Encoding Guide.

Other papers

• Recommendations of the European project IRIS II (Implementation of River Information Services) regarding the accuracy of depth data in Inland ENCs and the update intervals for depth data:

• Evaluation and recommendations regarding the use of SCAMIN and Usages in Inland ENCs

The recommended Codes for Waterways for use in the file name of IENCs can be found in the following document:

History

While there are some differences between the North American and European inland waterways, there are far more similarities. A North American - European Inland ENC Workshop was held in 2003 in conjunction with a Conference on River Information Services (RIS) organized by the European R&D-project COMPRIS (Consortium Operational Management Platform River Information Services). In addition to informing participants on the status of standards development and projects being conducted, a key objective was to discuss the benefits of harmonizing Inland ENC data standards between Europe and North America.

The goal of the IEHG is to agree upon specifications for Inland ENCs that are suitable for all known inland ENC data requirements for safe and efficient navigation for European and North American inland waterways. However, it is intended that this standard meets the basic needs for Inland ENC applications, worldwide. As such, the Inland ENC standard is flexible enough to accommodate additional inland waterway requirements in other regions of the world.

In September 2005, the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation became a member of the IEHG. In 2007, Brazil through its national Hydrographic Service, the Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation (DHN), joined the IEHG as the first South American country. In October 2009, the Waterborne Transportation Institute of the Ministry of Transport, Peoples Republic of China became the first member of the IEHG from the Asian region.

As an NGIO, IEHG supports, advises and provides input to IHO regarding Inland ENC matters.

Definition of IENC (Inland Electronic Navigational Chart)

Inland Electronic Navigational Chart (IENC) means: the database, standardized as to content, structure and format, for use with inland electronic chart display and / or information systems operated onboard of vessels transiting inland waterways. An IENC is issued by or on the authority of a competent government agency, and conforms to standards [initially] developed by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and [refined by] the Inland ENC Harmonization Group. An IENC contains all the chart information necessary for safe navigation on inland waterways and may contain supplementary information in addition to that contained in the paper chart (e.g. sailing directions, machine-readable operating schedules, etc.) which may be considered necessary for safe navigation and voyage planning.

IENC Standards

The framework for Inland ENC standards includes:

1. Use of IHO S-57 (Edition 3.1), including:

   1. ‘Maritime’ ENC Product Specification (Appendix B1)

   2. Object Catalogue (Appendix A)

   3. Use of Object Catalogue (Appendix B.1, Annex A)

2. A minimum Inland ENC Product Specification that includes mandatory requirements for safety-of-navigation on inland waterways, worldwide.

3. An Inland ENC Encoding Guide that provides guidance on recommended object classes, attributes, and attribute values for encoding IENC data.

4. Inland ENC Feature Catalogue.

5. Establishment of an Inland ENC domain for additional IENC features, attributes, and enumerations that are not already contained in other domains of the S-100 registry.

6. Use of the ienc.openecdis.org as a means of communication.

7. Align with the IHO S-100 Universal Hydrographic Data Model. In particular, this includes the Inland ENC domain as part of the overall S-100 Geospatial Information Registry.

The current versions of IENC-related standards are published on this website.

Two other Inland IENC-related standards that are not maintained by IEHG, but are used in Europe include:

1. Inland ECDIS Standard

2. IENC Presentation Library

Copies of all IENC-related standards available on this website.

IENC Encoding Guide

The IENC Encoding Guide provides detailed guidance on what is required to produce a consistent, uniform Inland ENC.

For all object classes, attributes, and attribute values that are used in conjunction with an IENC, the IENC Encoding Guide:

1. Provides a basis for its creation

2. Describes its relationship to the real-world entity

3. Provides criteria for its proper use

4. Gives specific encoding examples

5. Provides real-world and graphic examples of IENC information (portrayal)

Minimum Contents of an IENC

At a Minimum, the following objects shall be included in an IENC, if they exist:

1. Bank of waterway

2. Shoreline construction (e.g., groin, training wall)

3. Any facility that is considered a hazard to navigation

4. Contours of locks and dams (i.e., footprint area)

5. Boundaries of the navigation channel (if defined)

6. Isolated dangers in the navigation channel that are either:

   1. under water (obstructions)

   2. above water level (e.g., bridges, overhead cables)

7. Official Aids-to-Navigation (e.g. buoys, beacons, lights, notice marks)

8. Waterway axis with kilometres/hectometres

In addition to these minimum requirements, the Encoding Guide contains recommended objects, attributes and attribute values that are suitable for any Inland ENC application, worldwide. Each country or region can decide which of these recommended objects, attributes and attribute values are necessary to meet their requirements. For example, in Europe and the USA, there are different requirements for River Information Services (RIS).

Overview availability of Inland ENCs

Links to international organizations, that are dealing with Inland ENCs:

Links to national organizations, that are dealing with Inland ENCs:

Links to private companies, that are dealing with Inland Navigation Software:

Links to private companies, that are dealing with IENC Production Software:

Links to private companies, that are delaing with surveying, S57/S100 services and software

Free IENC Viewing Software:

18. IEHG meeting, Beijing, 2024

17. IEHG meeting, Chicago, 2023

IEHG meeting focused on S-401, online, 2022

16. IEHG meeting, Hasselt and online, 2021

15. IEHG meeting, New Orleans, 2019

14. IEHG meeting, Niteroi, 2017

13. IEHG meeting, Nanjing, 2015

12. IEHG meeting, Berlin, 2014

11. IEHG meeting, New Jersey, 2013

10. IEHG meeting, Iquitos, 2012

9. IEHG meeting, Chongqing, 2011

8. IEHG meeting, St. Petersburg, 2010

2nd task force on a quality standard for Inland ENCs, 2010

7. IEHG meeting, Vienna, 2009

1st task force on a quality standard for Inland ENCs, 2009

6. IEHG meeting, New Hampshire, 2008

5. IEHG meeting, Niteroi, 2007

4. IEHG meeting, St. Petersburg, 2006

3. IEHG meeting, Rostock, 2005

2. IEHG meeting, St. Louis, 2004

1. IEHG meeting, Nijmegen, 2003