Map Generalization

В статье представлены результаты первого этапа разработки Единой геолого-картографической модели, предназначенной для технологического обеспечения мониторинга государственных геологических карт масштаба 1 : 1 000 000 территории Российской Федерации и ее континентального шельфа. Модель интегрирует картографические материалы, серийные легенды и объяснительные записки, обеспечивая создание бесшовного геологического покрытия территории страны. В основу разработки Единой геолого-картографической модели положены многоуровневая организация данных, межсерийная корреляция и возможность формализации геологических описаний с использованием иерархических словарей. Разработанная технология включает базы данных структурированных массивов геологической информации, программные модули для их загрузки, анализа и отображения. Важным результатом является интеграция цифровых геологических ресурсов и возможность автоматизированного мониторинга карт в едином пользовательском интерфейсе. Модель данных обеспечивает возможность формирования геологических карт разных масштабных уровней и поддерживает преемственность данных, исключая противоречия и дублирование. Проект призван решить задачи по унификации и актуализации геологической информации с учетом международных стандартов и технологического суверенитета. В перспективе планируется развитие системы для полимасштабного анализа, выделения перспективных участков недр, автоматизированной генерализации карт. Промышленная технология мониторинга комплектов государственных геологических карт в рамках Единой геолого-картографической модели общегосударственного охвата в отечественной и мировой практике разработана впервые. На сегодняшний день в Единую геолого-картографическую модель загружены и переведены в режим мониторинга 19 комплектов Госгеолкарты-1000/3, включающие 16 типов карт и схем, более 3,5 млн геологических объектов и 110 000 объектов полезных ископаемых. Дальнейшее развитие технологии предполагается с учетом накопленного опыта эксплуатации и новых задач, возникающих в процессе мониторинга. (The paper outlines the first stage results of developing the Unified geological-cartographic model to technologically support State Geological Map (scale 1 : 1,000,000) monitoring of the Russian Federation territory and its continental shelf. The model integrates cartographic documents, serial legends, and explanatory notes, which contribute to the seamless coverage of the country’s territory. The multi-level data design, interserial correlation, and geological description formalization with hierarchical directory determine the Unified geological-cartographic model development. The technology includes structured arrays of digital geological information databases, plug-ins to download, analyze, and display them. Integration of digital geological resources and computer-assisted map monitoring in a unified user interface is outstanding. The data model allows forming multiscale-level geological maps and supports data succession, excluding conflicts and duplications. The project contributes to standardizing and updating geological information, with international standards and technological sovereignty considered. It is projected to develop the system for multiscale analysis, outlining prospective subsoil areas, computer-assisted map generalization. Domestically and globally, the novel industrial technology to monitor State Geological Map sets therefore corresponds to the nation-wide Unified geological-cartographic model. The model currently has 19 uploaded State Geological Map sets (scale 1 : 1,000,000, third generation) to monitor, which include 16 map types and diagrams, over 3.5 bn geological objects, and 110,000 mineral resource objects. The vast operating experience and new tasks upon monitoring facilitate further technology development.)

This thesis investigates a new protocol, iFlame, designed to provide highly scalable, distributed, real-time communication systems for the Internet. Scalabilityisachieved by using a client-oriented model rather than a more traditional server-centric one. The protocol specifies that servers maintain the locations of clients, but transactions are committed in a client-to-client fashion. iFlame is unique because it requires each client to be responsible for handling the load associated with the transactions it initiates. The claims of the protocol are demonstrated in an implementation called the iFlame Message System which combines the ability to send audio, video, text, and other MIME-encapulated data with dynamic client configuration via the Tcl/Tk scripting language. The system achieved several goals: scalability, efficiency, portability, and concurrency.

Ndër metodat e përdorura për studimin e ashpërsisë së sipërfaqeve, përparësi kanë metodat e matjes pa kontakt, të cilat bazohen në matjen e lartësisë së parrafshësive me anë të sistemeve optike që përdorin rrezatimin laser.  Këto metoda sigurojnë skanim të detajuar të sipërfaqes,  zvogëlim të kohës së matjes, shpejtësi të përpunimit të rezultateve
dhe janë veçanërisht të rëndësishme për studimin e sipërfaqeve lehtësisht të shformueshme, siç janë materialet tekstile. Matjet bazohen në shpërhapjen e dritës nga sipërfaqja që shqyrtohet. Në këtë punim është përdorur metoda trekëndore që konsiston në vendosjen në  pozicion trekëndor të burimit të rrezatimit laser, të sipërfaqes që skanohet dhe sensorit që kap rrezatimin e shpërhapur nga sipërfaqja. Tabloja e
shpërhapjes së dritës nga sipërfaqja e tekstileve të studiuara dëshmon mjaft veçanti që ndikojnë drejtpërdrejtë në rezultatet e matjes. Në studim janë analizuar rezultatet eksperimentale të marra për dy lloje të ndryshëm sipërfaqesh tekstilesh  dhe tre sipërfaqe homogjene që i afrohen gradualisht përafrimeve të Kirkofit. Rezultatet e paraqitura hapin rrugën për shpjegimin e dukurisë dhe për përmirësimin e saktësisë së metodikave të
matjeve.

Contactless methods are actually the most widely used testing methods to measure the roughness of the surface of textile fabrics. The method uses the scattering of a laser beam from small surface pixels to measure their heights. Priorities of the methods are: Detailed scanning of the surface, decreased measurement time, and data processing are essential in textile materials, minimizing surface deformation during measurement. In our
experiments, the triangulation method calculates the distance between the pixels and the sensor. As previously reported, specific characteristics of the textile surface highly influence the scattering of light from the surface, which leads to nonrealistic measuring results. In this study, we analyze the angular distribution of intensity of light scattered from the surface of two fabrics produced with different materials and with different weaving and tree other homogenous surfaces meeting Kirchoff’s approximations. Our results can help better understand the phenomena and improve measurement accuracy.

This report describes the results of NCGIA Initiative 3 on Multiple Representations. It begins with a discussion of objectives and the process of developing a research agenda. Each of the major research activities is discussed. The initiative was active during the period 1988-1990. Since that time, research activities have continued, and include research following the original agenda as well as off-shoot research topics that have been subsequently refined to formalize NCGIA Research Initiative 8, ÒFormalizing Cartographic KnowledgeÓ. These transitional research activities will be briefly presented.

In recent years national mapping agencies have increasingly integrated automatic map generalization methods in their production lines. This raises the question of how to assess and assure the quality of mapping products such as digital landscape models. Generalization must not only ensure specified standards for an output scale, but also needs to keep semantics as similar as possible under these given requirements. In order to allow for objective comparisons of different generalization results we introduce a semantic distance measure. We present results that optimize this measure subject to constraints reflecting database specifications and show how this measure can be used to compare the results of different methods, including exact and heuristic approaches. Zusammenfassung: Gewährleistung logischer Konsistenz und semantischer Genauigkeit in der Generalisierung. In zunehmendem Maß werden automatische Generalisierungsverfahren für die Produktion amtlicher digitaler Landschaftsmodelle eingesetzt. Dadurch entsteht ein wachsender Bedarf nach Verfahren zur Qualitätskontrolle und Qualitätssicherung. Generalisierung muss nicht nur für den Zielmaßstab definierte Standards realisieren, sondern dabei auch die Semantik repräsentierter Objekte nach Möglichkeit erhalten. Wir definieren ein semantisches Distanzmaß, um einen objektiven Vergleich unterschiedlicher Generalisierungsergebnisse zu ermöglichen, präsentieren Ergebnisse, die unter Nebenbedingungen aus existierenden Spezifikationen hinsichtlich dieses Maßes optimal sind, und zeigen Vergleichsmöglichkeiten von Ergebnissen exakter und heuristischer Verfahren auf.

Systems and methods for transaction pre-fetching, processing and provisioning through smart vehicle electronic system and back-end cloud infrastructure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for partitioning a transaction to be performed using a plurality of resources may include (1) a decision engine computer processor receiving a transaction request; (2) the decision engine computer processor identifying a first portion of the transaction request to be performed using a first resource and a second portion of the request required to be performed using a second resource; (3) the decision engine computer processor retrieving capability information for the first resource and the second resource; and (4) the decision engine computer processor allocating a first portion of the transaction request to the first resource, and a second portion of the transaction request to the second resource, based on the first required portion, the second required portion, and the capability information.

Today, modern cartography includes a broad range of applications such as digital maps, digital mapping products, alternative forms of visualization and analysis of digital geospatial data. It addresses the development of a theoretical/conceptual framework that explain various mapping processes. This paper is an analysis of some contemporary theoretical concepts about the map and cartography. Due to methodological aspects, conceptual analysis of the mapping is very important and therefore is treated by the ICA in mapping theory for many years. A map can be produced in three different formats: as a hard copy (paper maps, press plastic), geo - digital dataset (spatial and/or mapping) and cartographic visualization of data from geographic database (map multimedia presentation). One of the most useful approaches to the study of cartography is the definition of maps as a form of visual communication - a special purpose language for describing spatial relationships. Different models descri...

ABSTRACT: Safety of crew, passengers, cargo and vessel is the most important aspect in terms of navigation.
Boat Captain’s is responsible for the safety of vessel of less than 35GRT. The primary reason while MARINA
conducting the MBSTC Training with Typhoon Awareness together with the ISCOF to be sure that they are
enough knowledge in terms of safety at sea. Life is a very important to all of us that’s why the boat Captain
must be aware about the safety of his crew, passengers, cargo and vessel. When disaster and emergency happen
onboard you must know what to do. Based on this premise, the objective of this study is to train the Boat
Captain and Motormen in Medical First Aid, Advanced Fire Fighting, Personal Survival Techniques and
Collision Regulations. The study employed qualitative research using purposive sampling to gather the
opinions and ideas of the respondents.

Point features on topographic maps should be generalized through scale with respect to contextual, thematic information attributed to them. Also, because point features are typically presented with labels, their generalization should account for the area on the target map required to render the text. This paper presents an example automated workflow for the progressive thinning by selection of mountain summits. The workflow enriches the point features with a geomorphologic measure (prominence) and generalizes using this relative quantity as a ranking. The procedure uses scale-dependent rectangular tessellations to limit point density on the scaled target map such that each retained summit point has ample surrounding space within which to be labeled. The method is applicable to any thematic point map features which require uncluttered labels.

Mereotopologies have traditionally been defined in terms of the intersection of point sets representing the regions in question. Whilst these semantic schemes work well for purely topological aspects, they do not give any semantic insight into the degree to which the different mereotopological relations hold. This paper explores this idea of a distance based interpretation for mereotopology. By introducing a distance measure between x and y, and for various Boolean combinations of x and y, we show that all the RCC8 relations can be distinguished. We then introduce a distance measure which combines these individual measures which we show reflect different paths through the RCC8 conceptual neighbourhood-i.e. the measure decreases/increases monotonically given certain monotonic transitions (such as one region expanding). There are several possible applications of this revised semantics; in the second half of the paper we explore one of these in some depth-the problem of abstracting mereotopological relations from noisy video data, such that the sequences of qualitative relations between pairs of objects do not suffer from "jitter". We show how a Hidden Markov Model can exploit this distance based semantics to yield improved interpretation of video data at a qualitative level.

Level of service (LOS) is used as the main indicator of transport quality on urban roads and it is estimated based on the travel speed. The main objective of this study is to determine which of the existing models for travel speed calculation is most suitable for local conditions. The study uses actual data gathered in travel time survey on urban streets, recorded by applying second by second GPS data. The survey is limited to traffic flow in saturated conditions. The RMSE method (Root Mean Square Error) is used for research results comparison with relevant models: Akcelik, HCM (Highway Capacity Manual), Singapore model and modified BPR (the Bureau of Public Roads) function (Dowling - Skabardonis). The lowest deviation in local conditions for urban streets with standardized intersection distance (400-500 m) is demonstrated by Akcelik model. However, for streets with lower signal density (<1 signal/km) the correlation between speed and degree of saturation is best presented by HCM...

During the last decade we have attended to an impressive development of mobile communications which, unfortunately, deaf and hearing-impaired community cannot (in principle) take advantage of. In order to favour this people to take part in the Information Society, we have designed and developed some PC-based systems and applications which will provide several text-based services to them, such as real time and text mode communication between mobile text telephones and those connected to the PSTN or direct accessibility to Urgency Call Centers. We emphasize in this article the advantages of the software design methodology followed, which has led to the implementation of two systems which have shown to be robust and versatile in operation.

Geographic information systems (GIS) deal with data which can potentially be useful for a wide range of applications. However, the information needs of each application usually vary, specially in resolution, detail level, and representation style, as defined in the modeling phase of the geographic database design. To be able to deal with such diverse needs, GIS must offer features that allow multiple representations for each geographic entity of phenomenon. This paper presents a framework for the implementation of multiple representations in GIS with minimum data redundancy, based on a comprehensive set of basic operators from computational geometry, spatial analysis, and map generalization. These operators are used to transform a representation into another, or to generate various presentations from a given representation.

Объекты геологического наследия геохимического типа многочисленны, однако информация о них крайне скудна, а теоретическая основа для их выделения в должной мере не разработана. Согласно предлагаемому определению, они характеризуются уникальностью содержаний в геологической среде химических элементов и соединений, особенностей их миграции, протекания химических процессов в породах и почвах, антропогенного загрязнения геологической среды. В геологических памятниках этот тип комбинируется с другими типами, чаще всего с минералогическим и педологическим. Целесообразным видится создание геохимических полигонов для проведения систематического изучения уникальных феноменов. Например, в дельте р. Дон такой полигон позволит изучать особенности миграции и накопления тяжелых металлов, в частности ртути. Подобные инициативы обсуждаются и в других странах. Объекты геологического наследия геохимического типа вполне могут использоваться в целях туризма, что может внести вклад в развитие экологического образования. Однако для этого требуются их соответствующее оснащение и вовлечение в экотуристические программы. К л ю ч е в ы е с л о в а : геологическое наследие, геохимический полигон, дельта Дона, особо охраняемые природные территории, туризм.

When users zoom in or out on a digital map, the map should change correspondingly to present geographical information at proper levels. A way to help map users better keep track of their interested objects is to change the map smoothly instead of discretely switching between several levels of detail. This paper focuses on the problem of providing smooth merging of area objects. We propose to merge multiple areas simultaneously to share their animation durations. In this way, each merging operation can be prolonged, and it is visually smoother. We present a greedy algorithm to decide which areas should be merged at each step. The merging process is pre-computed and is recorded into a space-scale cube (SSC). When a user accesses our web map, the SSC is sent to the client side so that the map can be generated by slicing the SSC in the graphics processing unit (GPU). We also explain how to snap the zooming to valid states so that the zooming will not stop halfway of the merging operations. Our case study shows that it is visually smoother to merge simultaneously than to sequentially merge each pair of areas.

During the last decade we have attended to an impressive development of mobile communications which, unfortunately, deaf and hearing-impaired community cannot (in principle) take advantage of. In order to favour this people to take part in the Information Society, we have designed and developed some PC-based systems and applications which will provide several text-based services to them, such as real time and text mode communication between mobile text telephones and those connected to the PSTN or direct accessibility to Urgency Call Centers. We emphasize in this article the advantages of the software design methodology followed, which has led to the implementation of two systems which have shown to be robust and versatile in operation.

Cartographic generalization is one of the most unpleasant problems in cartography. Traditionally, in this process has dominated the manual method conducted individually and subjectively. Because of the subjective nature of cartographic generalization and lack of well-defined rules to guide the decision making, automatization of this process is very difficult. However, in recent decades, researchers have made great efforts and achieved much success in technology of digital generalization. The main attention in this process has been the formalization of digital generalization theory and its practice in reality. In GIS environment there are different tools for data generalization. In this paper is treated, briefly, the state of cartographic generalization in order to understand the needs and plans for the implementation of digital generalization capabilities in Albanian institutions and companies of GIS and Cartography. The article emphasizes the importance of integrating of cartograph...

(2001), graduada pela Esdi/Uerj (1996) e mestre em Design pela PUC-Rio (1998). Atualmente é docente do Mestrado em Design na UFPR, vice-coordenadora da graduação em design. É Bolsista de Produtividade em Pesquisa do CNPq (PQ 2), e seu principal interesse é voltado às áreas de Interação Humano-Computador e Usabilidade, com ênfase em Ergonomia e Design da Informação. Stephania é parecerista de diversos eventos em design em nível nacional e internacional, com publicação em periódicos reconhecidos como International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, revistas Estudos em Design e Design em Foco. Também é membro da diretoria da Sociedade Brasileira de Design da Informação (SBDI) e do corpo editorial da InfoDesign.

Cartographic design requires controllable methods and tools to produce maps that are adapted to users' needs and preferences. The formalized rules and constraints for cartographic representation come mainly from the conceptual framework of graphic semiology. Most current Geographical Information Systems (GIS) rely on the Styled Layer Descriptor and Semiology Encoding (SLD/SE) specifications which provide an XML schema describing the styling rules to be applied on geographic data to draw a map. Although this formalism is relevant for most usages in cartography, it fails to describe complex cartographic and artistic styles. In order to overcome these limitations, we propose an extension of the existing SLD/SE specifications to manage extended map stylizations, by the means of controllable expressive methods. Inspired by artistic and cartographic sources (Cassini maps, mountain maps, artistic movements, etc.), we propose to integrate into our system three main expressive methods: l...

La generalización cartográfica consiste en la preservación de las características de los elementos representados en una carta topográfica cuando su escala es reducida, de forma que la información pueda ser comprendida fácilmente por el usuario; en otras palabras, es un proceso de adaptación cuantitativo y cualitativo. La elabora- ción de cartas topográficas en diferentes escalas a través de generalización es reali- zada en varios países, haciendo más eficiente la producción y actualización del mapeo base. Dentro del contexto de generalización, este trabajo tiene como objetivo definir una metodología para la representación de edificaciones, límites de propie- dades y vías en escala 1:5.000, por generalización de cartas topográficas en escala 1:2.000. Esto fue realizado por medio de un análisis de las clases de los elementos presentes en la escala reducida, así como de la identificación de los problemas de representación, y de la definición y aplicación de los operadores de generaliza...

OpenStreetMap is a collaborative mapping tool in which users actively include, transform and exclude geographic data. Consequently, the quality and consistency of the information made available in the tool is of constant concern. To address this issue, this work performs an analysis of some of the quality parameters within OpenStreetMap, with the data referring to the region corresponding to Brazil, over a ten year period, as a source. Analyzing the parameters of Completeness, Logical Consistency and Temporal Accuracy, some basic characteristics of this type of tool can be observed, such as heterogeneity, since mapping does not occur uniformly.

Tactile maps are essential tools for visually impaired people to comprehend space and to support the simple pedestrian trips made difficult by their disability. Tactile maps are created manually and printed by specialists, and it takes a large amount of time to create a new one, which prevents using them on demand for everyday use. As a consequence, researchers and cartographers try to automate this creation process, but the existing automated derivation processes do not include generalization or advanced stylization steps, which limits their effectiveness. This paper reports first experiments to include such complex automated cartography processes to provide on demand tactile maps for visually impaired people. These first experiments were more intended to raise real research issues than solve them, and the paper discusses these issues in a research agenda to achieve automatically derived tactile maps.

Whatever the data source, or the capture process, the creation of a building footprint in a geographical dataset is error prone. Building footprints are designed with square angles, but once in a geographical dataset, the angles may not be exactly square. The almost-square angles blur the legibility of the footprints when displayed on maps, but might also be propagated in further applications based on the footprints, e.g., 3D city model construction. This paper proposes two new methods to square such buildings: a simple one, and a more complex one based on nonlinear least squares. The latter squares right and flat angles by iteratively moving vertices, while preserving the initial shape and position of the buildings. The methods are tested on real datasets and assessed against existing methods, proving the usefulness of the contribution. Direct applications of the squaring transformation, such as OpenStreetMap enhancement, or map generalization are presented.

Geoportals and geovisualization tools provide to users various cartographic abstractions that describe differently a geographical space. Our purpose is to be able to design cartographic continuums, i.e. a set of in-between maps allowing users to navigate between two topographic styles. This paper addresses the problem of the interpolation between two topographic abstractions with different styles. We detail our approach in two steps. Firstly, we setup a comparison in order to identify which structural elements of a cartographic abstraction should be interpolated. Secondly, we propose an approach based on two design methods for maps interpolation.

Cartographic generalisation is a process similar to text summarization that transforms a map when scale is reduced. Cartographic generalisation simplifies the map content while preserving as much as possible the initial characteristics and spatial relations of the map. The automation of this process requires a deep understanding of the context of each map feature, which involves different criteria such as the shape of the feature, the semantic nature of the feature, or the spatial patterns of its neighbouring features. This is why multiple criteria decision techniques can be relevant make multiple criteria decision during the process. This paper proposes two use cases of cartographic generalisation sub-tasks where multiple criteria decision techniques improve past techniques: the classification of urban building blocks and the ordering of the buildings to keep in the map as a priority. In both use cases, the proposed methods are experimented on large real cartographic datasets, and evaluated in comparison to alternative techniques.

OpenStreetMap data comprise of very detailed (e.g. zebra crossing) and quite rough features (e.g. built-up area). But making large scale maps from data with inconsistent level of detail often blurs map comprehension. This paper explores the automatic harmonization of OpenStreetMap data for large scale maps, i.e. the process that transforms rough objects to make them consistent with detailed objects. A typology of the new operators that harmonization requires is presented and six algorithms that implement the operators are described. Experiments with these algorithms raise several research questions about automation, parametrization, or the level of abstraction of the transformation, which are discussed in the paper.

Map generalization abstracts and simplifies geographic information to derive maps at smaller scales. The automation of map generalization requires techniques to evaluate the global quality of a generalized map. The quality and legibility of a generalized map is related to the complexity of the map, or the amount of clutter in the map, i.e. the excessive amount of information and its disorganization. Computer vision research is highly interested in measuring clutter in images, and this paper proposes to compare some of the existing techniques from computer vision, applied to generalized maps evaluation. Four techniques from the literature are described and tested on a large set of maps, generalized at different scales: edge density, subband entropy, quad tree complexity, and segmentation clutter. The results are analyzed against several criteria related to generalized maps, the identification of cluttered areas, the preservation of the global amount of information, the handling of occlusions and overlaps, foreground vs background, and blank space reduction.

La généralisation cartographique a pour objectif de simplifier l'information géographique d'une base de données pour produire une carte lisible à plus petite échelle. Depuis une vingtaine d'années, la recherche en généralisation a permis le développement de nombreux processus automatique de généralisation cartographique, chacun étant plus ou moins spécialisé pour un problème particulier : un type de paysage comme les zones urbaines, un thème de données comme l'occupation du sol, un conflit cartographique comme la superposition de symboles linéaires ou un mélange des trois. Cet article propose un modèle, CollaGen, pour réaliser une généralisation collaborative, c'est-à-dire une collaboration entre plusieurs processus automatiques pour traiter tous les problèmes posés par une carte à généraliser. CollaGen permet de découper les données en espaces géographiques et de déterminer le meilleur processus pour la généralisation de chacun des espaces. L'application des processus sur les espaces est orchestrée automatiquement. L'interopérabilité entre les processus est gérée grâce à des contraintes formelles et les effets de bord sont corrigés après chaque généralisation d'un espace. Des résultats du prototype de CollaGen sont présentés et discutés.

Alors qu'il est possible de définir le niveau de détail de bases de données géographiques classiques, cela n'est pas le cas pour les données collaboratives, qui contiennent fréquemment des niveaux de détail hétérogènes. Cette hétérogénéité est un véritable frein pour la réalisation de cartes, notamment quand on utilise les techniques traditionnelles, comme la généralisation, pour produire une carte à partir d'une base de données. Cet article propose une méthode pour estimer le niveau de détail de données issues de sources collaboratives. Ensuite, les incohérences entre objets de la carte à différents niveaux de détail, qui empêchent la réalisation de cartes lisibles, sont détectées automatiquement. Des propositions sont faites pour, ensuite, harmoniser le niveau de détail des objets de la carte. La méthode a été implémentée et des résultats sont présentés sur des données OpenStreetMap.

This article presents how a generative adversarial network (GAN) can be employed to produce a generalised map that combines several cartographic themes in the dense context of urban areas. We use as input detailed buildings, roads, and rivers from topographic datasets produced by the French national mapping agency (IGN), and we expect as output of the GAN a legible map of these elements at a target scale of 1:50,000. This level of detail requires to reduce the amount of information while preserving patterns; covering dense inner cities block by a unique polygon is also necessary because these blocks cannot be represented with enlarged individual buildings. The target map has a style similar to the topographic map produced by IGN. This experiment succeeded in producing image tiles that look like legible maps. It also highlights the impact of data and representation choices on the quality of predicted images, and the challenge of learning geographic relationships.

Visually impaired people cannot use classical maps but can learn to use tactile relief maps. These tactile maps are crucial at school to learn geography and history as well as the other students. They are produced manually by professional transcriptors in a very long and costly process. A platform able to generate tactile maps from maps scanned from geography textbooks could be extremely useful to these transcriptors, to fasten their production. As a first step towards such a platform, this paper proposes a method to infer the scale and the content of the map from its image. We used convolutional neural networks trained with a few hundred maps from French geography textbooks, and the results show promising results to infer labels about the content of the map (e.g. "there are roads, cities and administrative boundaries"), and to infer the extent of the map (e.g. a map of France or of Europe).

A multitude of calculi for qualitative spatial reasoning (QSR) have been proposed during the last two decades. The number of practical applications that make use of QSR techniques is, however, comparatively small. One reason for this may be seen in the difficulty for people from outside the field to incorporate the required reasoning techniques into their software. Sometimes, proposed calculi are only partially specified and implementations are rarely available. With the SparQ toolbox presented in this text, we seek to improve this situation by making common calculi and standard reasoning techniques accessible in a way that allows for easy integration into applications. We hope to turn this into a community effort and encourage researchers to incorporate their calculi into SparQ. This text is intended to present SparQ to potential users and contributors and to provide an overview on its features and utilization.

The paper is concerned with the qualitative representation of spatiotemporal relations. We initially propose a multiresolution framework for the representation of relations among 1 D intervals, based on a binary string encoding, We subsequently extend this framework to multiple dimensions, thus allowing the description of spatiotemporal relations at various contexts. The feasible relations at a particular resolution level are inherently permeated by a poset structure, called conceptual neighbourhood, upon which we propose efficient relation inferencing mechanisms. Finally, we discuss the application of our model to spatiotemporal reasoning, which refers to the classic problems of satisfiability and deductive closure of a set of spatiotemporal assertions.

(MVVM) është një model arkitekture në zhvillimin e softuerit, dizajnuar për të ndarë zhvillimin e ndërfaqes grafike të përdoruesit (GUI) nga logjika e biznesit. Kjo shabllon përdor një strukturë të përdorshme me tre komponentë kryesorë: Modeli, i cili përfaqëson të dhënat dhe logjikën e pasditeve; Pamja, që shfaq përmbajtjen dhe komunikon me përdoruesin; dhe ViewModel-i, një shtresë abstrakte që lidh modelin dhe pamjen.

Bulletin d'information de l'IGN N°70Ce numéro présente les progrès de la recherche réalisée au cours de l'année 1 998 à I'IGN. Les sujets plus particulièrement traités concernent l'extraction de détails topographiques sur photos, la photogrammétrie et la radiométrie des capteurs aéroportés, les modèles numériques de terrain, la télémétrie laser, les représentations tridimensionnelles et l'adéquation aux usages des mesures de qualité et des métadonnée

A workshop comprising experts in the field of map generalization came together with experts in ontological modelling in order to explore the role of ontologies in map generalization. A sequence of participatory activities identified the need for ontologies related to tasks, algorithms, data quality and truth, content selection, layout constraints, and geographical modelling (the set of relations among a set of map features). The workshop resulted in a deeper shared understanding of relationships between concepts that lie at the heart of map generalization. At the conclusion to the workshop attendees were tasked with developing case studies that will be shared via a wiki, and reported upon in a subsequent meeting devoted to ontological modelling for map generalization. This report is not exhaustive in its presentation of all the ideas and material presented at the workshop, but seeks to convey the over-arching methodology and its core findings. Introduction A one and a half day works...

Automatic map generalization is a complex task that is still a research problem and requires the development of research prototypes before being usable in productive map processes. In the meantime, reproducible research principles are becoming a standard. Publishing reproducible research means that researchers share their code and their data so that other researchers might be able to reproduce the published experiments, in order to check them, extend them, or compare them to their own experiments. Open source software is a key tool to share code and software, and CartAGen is the first open source research platform that tackles the overall map generalization problem: not only the building blocks that are generalization algorithms, but also methods to chain them, and spatial analysis tools necessary for data enrichment. This paper presents the CartAGen platform, its architecture and its components. The main component of the platform is the implementation of several multi-agent based models of the literature such as AGENT, CartACom, GAEL, CollaGen, or DIOGEN. The paper also explains and discusses different ways, as a researcher, to use or to contribute to CartAGen.

This research is concerned with automating the generalisation of topographic databases, in order to produce topographic maps. We use an agent-oriented approach: the geographic features (roads, rivers, buildings etc.) are modelled as autonomous agents, as previously undertaken within the European AGENT project (1). To handle rural areas, our approach consists of letting these agents interact so that each of them either finds a new location and geometric representation or eliminates itself, so that the whole fits within the generalisation specifications. For this, our agents are provided with capacities to perceive their spatial environment, as well as an ability to communicate with surrounding agents. This approach has been implemented and tested on real geographical data. In this paper we describe the system. Some encouraging results are presented and discussed.

Depuis quelques années, les travaux sur les SMA multi-niveaux ont pris une importance croissante. Devant la diversité des modèles proposés, nous pensons qu'il est utile d'identifier des situations récurrentes et de les caractériser d'une manière suffisamment abstraite pour pouvoir comparer de manière formelle les modèles existants et faciliter la conception de nouveaux modèles. Dans ce but, nous proposons une première liste de patterns SMA multi-niveaux. Ces patterns sont issus d'un travail d'unification de modèles SMA multi-niveaux dédiés à la résolution d'un problème spatialisé (la généralisation cartographique). La structure et la dynamique de chaque pattern sont décrites formellement et accompagnées d'exemples issus d'une part du contexte de la généralisation cartographique, d'autre part d'autres contextes applicatifs multi-agents, en simulation notamment. Nous discutons également la possibilité de réutiliser et composer ces patterns.

Process modelling has always been an important part the research in generalisation. While in the early days, this would take the form of a static sequence of generalisation actions, today the focus is on modelling much more complex processes, capable of generalising geographic data in to various maps according to specific user requirements. This chapter discusses several aspects of the problem of building such systems. As the system get more complex, it becomes important to be able to reuse components which already exist. Web services have been used to encapsulate generalisation processes in a way that maximises their interoperability and therefore reusability. However, for a system to discover and trigger such service, it needs to be described in machine understandable way, and the system needs to have the knowledge about where and when to use such tool. This chapter therefore explores the requirements and potential approaches to design and build such systems.