English

A thin, metal, plastic, or paper sheet, that carries the printing image and whose surface is treat­ed to make only the image areas ink-receptive.

In geographical literature, a natural or artificial TERRACE; a flat elevated piece of GROUND; a TABLELAND, a PLATEAU. In oceanographic terminol­ogy, any man-made structure (aircraft, ship, BUOY, or tower) from or on which oceanographic instruments are suspended or installed. Structures which are erected on or over the seabed and subsoil for the purpose of exploring for, develo­ping, removing and transporting resources therefrom.

(v.t.). To draw lines and points to represent certain conditions graphically, as the various lines and points on a CHART or PLOTTING SHEET, representing the progress of a craft, a graphical solution of a problem, etc.

An instrument used for plotting straight lines and measuring angles on a CHART or PLOTTING SHEET. See PROTRACTOR. In data processing it stands for (a) Vector plotter: An electromechanical device for automatically drawing curves. The curves are generated by a sequence of linear incremental pieces ("vectors") depending on the resolution provided by the device. For cartographic purposes, high precision FLAT-BED PLOTTERS (drawing tables) are used. (b) Raster or electrostatic plotter: A sophisticated electronic device for producing pictures by means of raster techniques. The picture is generated by lines of PIXELS drawn sequentially, typically with a resolution of 200-400 pixels per inch. Raster plotters can produce complete pictures in short time irrespective of the complexity of the picture's contents.

A stiff transparent polar coordinate plotting sheet for tracking other vessels and aircraft and solving problems involv­ing RELATIVE MOVEMENT.

A blank CHART, usually on the MERCATOR PROJECTION, showing only the GRATICULE and a COMPASS ROSE, so that the plotting sheet can be used for any LONGITUDE. In hydrographic SURVEYING, a working sheet on which the main STATIONS of the SURVEY are plotted. It forms the framework of the SURVEY and provides the basis for accurately locating and plotting all the detail of the SURVEY. See also LATTICE.

A CHART showing time diffe­rence or phase difference curves of a circular or a hyperbolic navigational system. These LATTICE lines are used to accurately position the DATA collected during HYDROGRA­PHIC or OCEANOGRAPHIC SURVEYS.

A conical device, usually of brass and suspen­ded by a cord, by means of which a point can be projec­ted vertically into space over relative short distan­ces. Also referred to as plummet.