RASTER

Many statistical queries such as maximum likelihood estimation involve finding the best candidate model given a set of candidate models and a quality estimation function. This problem is common in important applications like land-use classification at multiple spatial resolutions from remote sensing raster data. Such a problem is computationally challenging due to the significant computation cost to evaluate the quality estimation function for each candidate model. For example, a recently proposed method of multi-scale, multi-granular classification has high computational overhead of function evaluation for various candidate models independently before comparison. In contrast, we propose an upper bound based context-inclusive approach that reduces computational overhead based on the context, i.e. the value of the quality estimation function for the best candidate model so far. We also prove that an upper bound exists for each candidate model and the proposed algorithm is correct. Experimental results using land-use classification at multiple spatial resolutions from satellite imagery show that the proposed approach reduces the computational cost significantly.

The development of a simple algorithm for deriving raster data from scanned thematic maps is described. Such maps usually contain extra information in addition to the thematic information—identification symbols and cartographic details—which need to be removed before the information can be used in a Geographic Information System. The method described here requires the user to identify those pixel values which represent unwanted information. The program then attempts to replace these with the thematic data values in the neighboring pixels. The method has been implemented as a module for the IDRISI raster GIS which runs on IBM PCs. The FORTRAN source is included, together with an explanation of some of the design decisions taken in writing it. Initial results from the method seem promising, although further work is required to determine the optimum method of scanning to use, and the types of maps for which the method is most suited.

Maps can be a great source of information for a given geographic region, but they can be difficult to find and even harder to process. A significant problem is that many interesting and useful maps are only available in raster format, and even worse many maps have been poorly scanned and they are often compressed with lossy compression algorithms. Furthermore, for many of these maps there is no meta data providing the geographic coordinates, scale, or projection. Previous research on map processing has developed ...

Measuring the degree of similarity between thematic raster databases is a common task widely used in remote sensing accuracy assessment, spatial model validation, and many other geospatial tasks. However, conventional similarity measures look only at point-to-point similarity; they are not designed to evaluate the similarity of shapes and arrangements of features within the databases being compared. This study proposes a

This paper presents an efficient implementation of moving least square(MLS) approximation for 3D surface reconstruction. The smoothness of the MLS is mainly determined by the weight function where its support greatly affects the accuracy as well as the computational time in the mixed dense and scattered data. In a point-set, possibly acquired from a 3D scanning device, it is important to determine the support of the weight function adaptively depending on the distribution and shape of the given scatter data. Particulary in case of face data including the very smooth parts, detail parts and some missing parts of hair due to low reflectance, preserving some details while filling the missing parts smoothly is needed. Therefore we present a fast algorithm to estimate the support parameter adaptively by a raster scan method from the quantized integer array of the given data. Some experimental results show that it guarantees the high accuracy and works to fill the missing parts very well.

We present an approach to perform geomorphometric analysis for Digital Elevation Models (DEM) to obtain the Cartographic Knowledge Domain (CKD) of the landscapes. CKD is oriented to represent the essential properties of DEM by means of concepts. These properties are obtained by analyzing the terrain topography. This analysis is based on two classifications: landform and topographic ruggedness. The approach involves the following raster layers: slope, profile curvature and plan curvature (primary attributes), which have been built to identify the intrinsic properties of the landscape. We use a multi-valued raster to integrate the primary attributes of DEM to generate the landform classification layer in order to find the terrain characteristics of the water movement. The topographic ruggedness is used to express the amount of elevation difference between adjacent cells of DEM. The topographic ruggedness is presented by means of Terrain Ruggedness Index (TRI). This work is oriented to support subsequent processes. The method has been implemented into Geographical Information System – ArcInfo, and applied for Tamaulipas State, Mexico.

PROGRAMS FOR RECORDING SEMANTIC DATA ON A RASTER MAP (AS EXEMPLIFIED BY TOURIST MAPS). "Recording semantic data on a raster map and thus making it amenable to reading through a browser has so far posed an unsolved problem. In numerous cases, such a new cartographic product would be an advantage over traditional cartographic GIS products. The advantage would be augmented by no need for a user to have specialized knowledge and command of GIS. The knowledge of geography at the secondary-school level would be sufficient to create and use such maps.
Long-term research on methods for recording semantic information on raster maps and on the use of other graphic documents in a raster form have resulted in developing methods for generating e-symbols based on the source alphabet.
To implement the method, the authors have developed a software package containing an analyzer, an e-symbol library generator, an editor for placing e-symbols on a raster map, and a graphic browser for reading the semantic information written on a raster map. The paper describes application of the software on a tourist map as an example.
The study is based on a map type that is commonly used by tourists, which contains mostly information on places worth visiting (historical and national monuments of architecture and nature), tourist trails (for pedestrians, bikers, cars), transportation system (bus stops, railway stations, ferry terminals), as well as on tourist infrastructure and entertainment (accommodation, restaurants, cinemas, bars, discos). The software described in the paper makes it possible to extend the information content of such a tourist map by any additional items (e.g., standard, address, phone number, and e-mail address of accommodation, geographical coordinates, etc.) without loss of clarity and without any need to build an extra database.
Flexibility of the method presented makes it possible to supplement the contents of such map by including any type of information important for the user.
Keywords: GIS, Raster Map, Semantic Data, Graphic Editor, Maps for Tourists.""

METHOD AND SOFTWARE FOR CREATION OF RASTER INTERACTIVE  TOURIST MAPS WITH SEMANTIC INFORMATION ABOUT OBJECTS. "Reading map combines reading text signatures-and obtaining information in process of transition from cartographic model into a message in a language (verbal-numerical form). For GIS-user not only the information from traditional map is accessible, but also the information gathered and recorded in a semantic database. However printed GIS-map contains the same information as traditional map. All semantic data are stored in a database and cannot be read from a hard-copy. The problem which needs to be solved here is (he manner of attaching semantic data to raster map, in a way which allows putting such data in raster map and enables its reading from hard-copy. As the solution of problem mentioned above, the method of writing down" of semantic data in a raster map with use of symbols of the E-alphabet is described. These symbols guarantee
user an opportunity for reading the complete information included in G1S. The important stage in symbol of the E-alphabet generation is the choice of the basic alphabet. In the article results of research are presented and examples of maps for tourists.
KEYWORDS: GIS, Raster Map, Semantic Data, Graphic Editor, Maps for Tourists."

"Map reading combines reading text signatures and obtaining information in the process of transition from cartographic model into a message in a language (verbal-numerical form). For GlS-users not only the information from a traditional map is accessible, but also the information gathered and recorded in a semantic database. However, a printed GIS-map contains the same information as a traditional map. All semantic data are
stored in a database and cannot be read from a hard-copy. The problem which needs to be solved here is the manner of attaching semantic data to a raster map, in a way which allows putting such data in a raster map and enables its reading from a hard-copy. As a solution to the problem mentioned above, the method of writing semantic data in a raster map using symbols of the GIS-alphabet is described. These symbols guarantee the user the opportunity for reading the complete information included in die GIS. An important stage in the symbol of the GIS-alphabet generation is the choice of the basic alphabet. The methods of alphabet choice optimization are described in this article. The purpose of optimization is the minimization of the area needed for putting a symbol in a map, what results in practically unchanged legibility of the printed GIS-map (hard-copy) in comparison to the legibility of a traditional one.
Keywords: GIS, Raster Map, Semantic Data, GIS-Alphabet, Hard-Copy, Topographical Database."

TECHNOLOGY OF PREPARING RASTER MAPS WITH DESCRIPTIVE DATA OF POINTS OF INTEREST. "Tourist maps are one category of map designed for the mass user. For this reason this product needs to meet several requirements, e.g., it needs to be cheap, simple to use, easily and rapidly updated using a standard computer, navigation software and a mobile phone. The research presented in this paper, including e.g., the classification of points of interest, e-symbols as a tool to save descriptive data on raster maps, map editing software, and a browser for visualizing standard reports, forms the basis for a technology for creating interactive raster maps with descriptive data. Examples of preparing maps and their content show that the technology developed might be used for other thematic maps.
KEy words: SIP, map, raster, data, tourism.""""