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Contents of this section:

Infopoints and Routes

Infopoints are the main information elements in the system. They are markers on the map, with associated information depending on their type.

Infopoint Ownership

Infopoints have owners. The owner is usually the creator of the infopoint. However ownership of an infopoint may change over time (i.e., a user may transfer ownership of an infopoint to another user).

Creating Infopoints

To create an infopoint simply click on the category you want your future infopoint to belong to (Facilities, Navigation Aids, Tourist Information, etc.) and then click "Add" next to the infopoint type you want. A new icon in edit mode (with a white background) will appear at the middle of the chart. Move the infopoint's location by dragging the icon. On the panel of the left, fill in the name and other fields you have information for (usually only the name is mandatory — if you don't know about the rest of the information you may leave the fields blank at this moment, some other user may complete the data after you).

Some infopoint types (harbors, for instance) have extended information that you may complete at this point. In order to do that, click on "Show/Hide more details" on the panel on the left, and a form will slide in, showing you extra fields. Complete the information you know.

Once you're satifisfied with the position of your new infopoint and the information it contains, click "Save" to add it to the system. Remember, you can always edit it afterwards and complete or correct its related information.

Before clicking "Save" you may cancel the operation at any moment, by clicking "Cancel". If you do so, no infopoint will be created.

Updating Infopoints

Registered users may modify infopoints published by others (and they are encouraged to do so to keep the information as up to date and accurate as possible), with the following limits/actions taken by the system:

  • A user will only be able to move the position of a given infopoint by a radius of 5 nautical miles the first time, and 2 nautical miles the second time. If he/she wishes to move an infopoint longer than that or more times than that, he must notify the owner of the infopoint, and the final decision is up to that person.
  • A user may update the extended information related to the infopoint.
  • The owner of the infopoint will be notified of the update, being able to flag the update as inappropriate.
  • The system keeps a history for all the information related to an infopoint.

To edit an existing infopoint, click on its icon on the chart, and then select "Edit". From this moment on, the procedure is exactly the same as when you are creating a new infopoint (see before). Once you're satisfied with the update, click "Save", or "Cancel" to cancel the operation at any point.

Flagging Infopoints as Inaccurate

Users may flag infopoints as inaccurate. This means the information they contain is completely wrong or even dangerous. If two or more users flag an infopoint as inaccurate, the system will notify the owner, as well as take action in order to verify or delete the infopoint.

Please note that flagging an infopoint as inaccurate is a last resource action. If you think you can improve the information, simply correct the infopoint by updating its position or its related information. BlooSee is a collaborative project, and users have the capacity of making it better by improving all the information it contains.

A Special Type of Infopoint: Generic Waypoint

Generic waypoints are infopoints meant to be used in routes. They don't mark a special land or water feature, but are points where many routes are likely to pass on. A generic waypoint can be created directly following the standard infopoint creation procedure or promoted from a waypoint in one of your routes.

Mark a place as a generic waypoint when you think many routes can use it as one of their waypoints. An example of that could be a cape, where many routes will pass to round it.

Infoareas

Infoareas are the same as infopoints, only the cover areas on the chart instead of specific coordinates. At this point they are not implemented in the system.

Routes

You’re probably familiar with the concept of routes after having dealt with them with your GPS, and BlooSee routes are no different in that respect. They are, essentially, a series of waypoints linked together in a given order. The waypoints which make up a route allow users to plan sea passages easily on the chart. Those routes can either be kept private or shared with others.

As with infopoints, routes have owners. Routes can be updated at any time by their owner.

Creation of Routes

Routes are made up of waypoints. They can be created by either clicking directly on the map to create new waypoints or by adding an infopoint to a route. Only the following type of infopoints may belong to a route:

  • Generic waypoint
  • Harbor
  • Anchorage
  • Moorings
  • Mooring buoys

If you want to add an infopoint to a route click on the infopoint while creating or editing a route and select "Add to route".

Next: Infopoints Types