Alan J. Freedman Award

Founder and CEO of Navionics, Giuseppe Carnevali changed the way we navigate and played a large role in shaping how modern mariners plan their on-water adventures.

 

Guiseppe attained a Doctor of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture from the University of Genova in 1971, magna cum laude. After a stint in the Italian Navy, Giuseppe became the production manager of the prestigious Benetti Shipyard, and was the project manager for the construction of Nabila, the most sophisticated mega yacht of its time. Following this he launched a company that introduced the first CAD-CAM technology and computer graphics into Italian shipbuilding.

 

In the early '80s Giuseppe realized that to survive he needed to invent something radically new, and by combining his extensive background in the boating and shipping industry with his skills as navigator and pilot and his experience with computer graphics, he came up with the world's first electronic charting device. In 1984 his company Navionics changed the way people navigate. Giuseppe’s invention of the Geonav chartplotter paved the way for today’s GPS devices.

Under Giuseppe’s leadership, Navionics has grown into the leader in electronic charting. It has the world’s largest privately held database of marine and lake charts, covering the salt waters of the entire planet as well as tens of thousands of lakes and rivers, and is supported by 100% of navigation electronics manufacturers. Many of these charts have been developed through proprietary surveys done both in the field and with remote sensing, including satellite imagery and airborne laser scanners. Also very popular is its boating app, which outsells its nearest competitor 10 to 1, and has become a standard on all boats.