An automation system: generation of digital map data from pictorial map resources

摘要

This paper presents a system of digital map data generation from pictorial map images. In the system, binary map images are first converted to graph images. Many processes of image segmentations and relinks are carried out in the images of graph domain. Once well defined road boundaries and house contours have been detected, road map data and house data are created separately by road map generator and house data generator. Two creative works have been made in the research: detecting main curves of maps and rolling ball. In main curve detection, road boundaries and individual house contours are separated from underline characters, symbols and other map components in graph maps. Rolling ball is a fast process of road data generation, combining road recognition and vectorization into one operation. The system was tested with real pictorial maps of scales 1:1000 to 1:2500. Satisfactory results were obtained. It shows that the system can be further developed for industrial applications.