CARIS is pleased to announce the release of Hydrographic Production Database (HPD) version 2.4. With new product editors, new database support and new utility programs, the HPD user group of national hydrographic offices will advance towards a truly integrated hydrographic data management and production environment.

The release of version 2.4 combines ideas and feedback from CARIS HPD users. Eighteen nations have already adopted HPD in their hydrographic production workflow indicating industry acceptance of a database-driven approach to hydrographic data management and production.

Among the highlights of 2.4 is the release of two new product editor programs. Additional Military Layer (AML) Editor for creation of S-57 format AML products and Generic Product Editor for interactive, graphical extraction of "product neutral" features, based on user-defined filtered sets of features and attributes. These product editors expand the existing HPD product suite, which already includes the HPD Source Editor, S-57 ENC Product Editor and Paper Chart Editor.

CARIS has established a solid working rapport with leading hydrographic offices around the world. Each release of HPD works to bring together the experience, knowledge and feedback received from these hydrographic offices in order to introduce the features and functionality that will transition HPD users further to "one" hydrographic production database.