Generalization of Linear and Area Features Incorporating a Shape Measure

Abstract

This article elaborates on the quality issue in cartographic generalization of linear and area features focusing on the assessment of shape preservation. Assessing shape similarity in generalization is still a topic where further research is required. In the study presented here, shape description and matching techniques are investigated and analyzed, a procedure for choosing generalization parameters suitable for line and area features depiction is described and a quality model is developed for the assessment and verification of the generalization results. Based on the procedure developed, cartographers will be confident that the generalization of linear and area features is appropriate for a specific scale of portrayal fulfilling on the same time a basic requirement in generalization, that of shape preservation. The results of the procedure developed are based on the processing and successful generalization of a large number of different line and area features that is supported by a software environment developed in Python programming language.