Map Revision Research Articles

Geological applications of GIS

Geological Information Systems (GIS) was the theme of the AGM of the Geoscience Information Group held at the NERC Unit for Thematic Infomation Systems, Reading University on 17 September 1991. The meeting was convened by G. Wadge to discuss what geological problems can be addressed by current GIS and what new technical capabilities are required to solve other problems. Eight papers were presented to an audience of 61 and five GISs were demonstrated over an extended lunch break. GIS has the potential for making published map revision easier and cheaper in the way that word processing has done away with repeat typing of draft manuscripts. J. L. Laxton (BGS Edinburgh) illustrated this potential by describing how a series of ten thematic geological maps from the Wrexham area, derived from solid and drift geological maps, mine plans, borehole and quarry information, were created. ARC/INFO was used for input, editing and overlay operations to produce vector maps. These were then transferred to a LEGIS (now HORIZON) system for combination with a raster base-map prior to plotting and production of masters for printing. Despite a number of technical problems it was argued that the data checking involved in this process produced a better quality product than traditional methods. In the first of three papers involving engineering geology applications, P. Nathanail (Wimpey) & M. Rosenbaum (Imperial College) gave an overview of the requirements of a GIS for this discipline. Data, particularly data structure , data storage and models of ground conditions were seen as

地図修正のための建物自動抽出

Automatic feature extraction techniques were developed for use with digital images and map data to assess the feasibility of employing expert systems for map revision. Urban test areas were selected and SPOT images, map separates, and printed map sheets acquired. The digitized map and image data were placed in register to create a cartographic database suitable for use with a prototype expert system optimized for the extraction of building features.Input images were segmented with the region growing method using optimum threshold values derived from map data. Twenty descriptors of shape, size, and tone such as area and elongatedness were calculated for each of the segmented regions using these descriptors. The expert system was also designed to direct the image processing routines with specific instructions (“how to analyze”) applied to focused areas (“where to look”) in the iteration process.The map data were useful for determining initial parameter values for image processing and for change detection of existing features. An expert system approach permitted control of the iterations required for feature extraction and the refinement of threshold values. The accuracy of feature extraction increased as the image pixel resolution was improved. In order to realize feature extraction results comparable to those achieved by human interpreters, digital images must be resampled to pixel resolutions of one-half to one-fourth the original pixel dimension.

MODERN PROBLEMS IN THE STUDY OF SOILS FROM SPACE IMAGERY

The authors examine general methodological and practical problems to be overcome along the way to making remote sensing a more effective tool in the study of soils in the USSR. These include the need for more work in defining spectral curves for various soil types, for improving the effectiveness of soil monitoring via remote sensing (e.g., of moisture content, insect infestations, soil erosion by such devices as side-looking radar, infrared sensors, and thermography), and for revision of soil maps and soil inventories on an all-Union basis. Translated by Edward Torrey, Alexandria, VA 22308 from: G. V. Dobrovol'skiy and V. L. Andronikov, eds., Aerokosmicheskiye metody v pochvovedenii i ikh ispol'zovaniye v sel'skom khozyaystve: sbornik nauchnykh trudov [Remote Sensing Methods in Soil Science and Their Utilization in Agriculture: A Collection of Scientific Works]. Moscow: Nauka, 1990, pp. 8-15.

Production and revision of maps using satellite photography from MKF-6, KATE-140, KATE-200 and KFA-1000 cameras

The paper describes experiences with the production and revision of maps using satellite photographs in the German Democratic Republic. Since 1976 we have been producing photogrammetric products at scales between 1:500,000 and 1:50,000 from space photographs. In the last years we have obtained high-resolution Soviet space photographs taken with the KFA-1000 camera with a resolution of 5 to 10 m. Experience has shown that the photographs can be used for the “shortened updating” of maps at 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 scale.

地図データ更新における変化部自動抽出の試み

Necessity of an automatic change detection method was emphasized for efficient map revision. The significance and problems of utilizing existing old maps for a change detection system were discussed. A couple of problems in applying basic image understanding techniques to change detection were reviewed, and an attempt was made to solve them with a prototype system developed for use with satellite images and map data.The attempt clarified that every automatic change detection system outputs some errors in its results, and that such systems must have some efficient error inspection functions incorporated well with human inspection capability in order to be practically used. An example of such inspection systems was also presented.

A chromosome jump crosses a translocation breakpoint in the von recklinghausen neurofibromatosis region

The von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis (NFI) gene has been previously localized to the region 17q11.2 by genetic analysis. Consistent with this, two NFI patients have been described with autosomal translocations with breakpoints in 17q11.2, and these represent presumed markers for the location of the NFI gene. Recent work has defined the two breakpoints on a physical map, and they lie less than 100 kb apart. To characterize further the distance between these breakpoints and clone additional DNA, a chromosome jump was made from a DNA fragment that maps between the breakpoints. The end of the jump crosses one of the NFI translocation breakpoints and detects that breakpoint on Southern analysis, placing the probe less than 15 kb telomeric to this breakpoint. Pulsed field analysis with the jump clone allows revision of the previous NFI region map and indicates that the two breakpoints lie no more than 60 kb apart. This jump clone will be useful for further mapping, breakpoint cloning, analysis of patient DNA, and the search for transcripts in the NFI region.

PHOTOGRAMMETRIC DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ORDNANCE SURVEY IN 1990

AbstractThe author, a research and development manager at Ordnance Survey, reviews current developments in photogrammetry including the automatic correlation of image points for aerial triangulation, digital photogrammetric map revision, mapping from SPOT imagery and progress in aerial photography.

Revision of large-scale maps at the Ordnance Survey

The whole land area of Great Britain is covered by mapping at one or another of the three basic scales of 1:1250, 1:2500 or 1:10 000; this requires nearly 220 000 individual map sheets. The Ordnance Survey is responsible for the custody, maintenance and revision of this ‘Archive’ of topographic information. Many of the maps are subject to a process of ‘continuous revision’, for which ground survey techniques are usually most suitable, but sometimes aerial photography is used; and the applications of photogrammetry for periodic update or improvement of other areas are increasing. The impact of digital mapping introduces complex requirements for the digital capture of revision information but it may permit some of the constraints imposed by scale, specification and sheet-edges to be reviewed. The full integration of photogrammetry into an environment of topographic databases promises to be interesting and challenging.

Probabilistic earthquake risk maps of Australia

New earthquake risk maps, based on the Cornell‐McGuire methodology, have been prepared for the Australian continent and continental margins. The risk is depicted as contours of peak ground velocity, acceleration and ground intensity with a 10% probability of being exceeded in 50 years. The earthquake process was assumed to be Poissonian and consequently foreshocks and aftershocks were eliminated. The estimated maximum earthquake magnitude likely to be expected in each zone was assumed to be half a magnitude unit greater than the largest recorded Richter magnitude for that zone. For areas outside the defined source zones, normalized background seismicity levels were used in the risk estimates. Separate relationships for the attenuation of ground intensity with hypocentral distance using a scaling law of the Kanai form were obtained for western, southeastern and northeastern Australia and for Indonesian earthquakes felt in northern Australia. These were based on the determination of mean isoseismal radii from isoseismal maps of Australian earthquakes and hence reflect average site conditions. Conversions of ground intensity (I, on the Modified Mercalli scale) to peak ground acceleration (A, in m/s2) and velocity (v, in mm/s) were carried out using the empirical relations log A=I/3.1 — 2.3 and 2 I= 7ν/5. Recordings of peak ground acceleration were used where available to check the resultant acceleration and velocity attenuation functions. This re‐evaluation of seismic risk in Australia may be used as the basis for a revision of the seismic zone map in the current Australian Building Code.

Developments in analytical instrumentation

The situation regarding photogrammetric instrumentation has changed quite dramatically over the last 2 or 3 years with the withdrawal of most analogue stereo-plotting machines from the market place and their replacement by analytically based instrumentation. While there have been few new developments in the field of comparators, there has been an explosive development in the area of small, relatively inexpensive analytical stereo-plotters based on the use of microcomputers. In particular, a number of new instruments have been introduced by manufacturers who mostly have not been associated previously with photogrammetry. Several innovative concepts have been introduced in these small but capable instruments, many of which are aimed at specialised applications, e.g. in close-range photogrammetry (using small-format cameras); for thematic mapping (by organisations engaged in environmental monitoring or resources exploitation); for map revision, etc. Another innovative and possibly significant development has been the production of conversion kits to convert suitable analogue stereo-plotting machines such as the Topocart, PG-2 and B-8 into fully fledged analytical plotters. The larger and more sophisticated analytical stereo-plotters are mostly being produced by the traditional mainstream photogrammetric systems suppliers with several new instruments and developments being introduced at the top end of the market. These include the use of enlarged photo stages to handle images up to 25 × 50 cm format; the complete integration of graphics workstations into the analytical plotter design; the introduction of graphics superimposition and stereo-superimposition; the addition of correlators for the automatic measurement of height, etc. The software associated with this new analytical instrumentation is now undergoing extensive re-development with the need to supply photogrammetric data as input to the more sophisticated G.I.S. systems now being installed by clients, instead of the data being used mostly in the digital mapping systems operated in-house by mapping organisations. These various new hardware and software developments are reported upon and analysed in this Invited Paper presented to ISPRS Commission II at the 1988 Kyoto Congress.

Privatization of U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps: A survey

Topographic mapping is a long-established government activity. Libraries have been receiving maps from the United States Geological Survey for over 90 years; recently this and other map depository arrangements with federal mapping agencies have been consolidated into the Government Printing Office's library depository program. This long relationship could be jeopardized by an Interior Department proposal to privatize the mapmaking activities of the U.S. Geological Survey. This proposal is consistent with the philosophy prevailing during the Reagan administration that government should not compete with the private sector in the provision of products and services, including the publication of government information. Just as the cutback in government publications has negatively affected depository libraries in general, so the transfer of topographic mapping to private concerns could lead to the end of the depository arrangement, higher prices, copyright restrictions on users, with spotty coverage of areas and uncertain revision of maps due to variable demand.

Automatic map-guided extraction of roads from SPOT imagery for cartographic database updating

Abstract The launching of the Satellite Probatoire d'Observation de la Terre (SPOT) has permitted the acquisition of images with a relatively fine ground resolution (10 and 20 m). Such improvement has brought forward the possibility of medium-scale mapping using such data. In this paper we are proposing an automatic approach to 1:50000 scale planimetric data revision using the panchromatic channel of SPOT imagery (10m of ground resolution). A software package has been developed that performs an automatic map-guided extraction of objects from the SPOT image for map revision purposes. The programs are fully described along with some conclusive results through the updating of the road network on a topographic map. An attempt has been made to give a preview of how such a map-guided approach can be extended to other linear features and possibly two-dimensional objects as well.

MEDIUM AND SMALL FORMAT PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF NATIONAL MAPPING

AbstractIn order to realise the full potential of photogrammetry for national map revision, photographic acquisition lead times and, where possible, costs must be significantly reduced. In this paper a review of alternative platform and camera configurations is made and tests are undertaken utilising simulated data and medium format data taken from an existing project. The results suggest that the medium format camera and helicopter combination may have much to offer while the small format camera and microlight aircraft systems have yet to be developed into an effective data acquisition and map compilation system.

Review of Mesozoic Stratigraphy in New Mexico: Relevance to State Geologic Map Revision Project: ABSTRACT

Review of Mesozoic Stratigraphy in New Mexico: Relevance to State Geologic Map Revision Project: ABSTRACT

ORIGEM DA BACIA SEDIMENTAR COSTEIRA PERNAMBUCO-PARAÍBA

The Pernambuco-Paraiba sedimentary coastal basin is one of the less well known Atlantic marginal basins of Brazil. Due to the fact that exactly in this area the southern and equatorial Atlantic oceans at their opening did meet, its geological history is quite particular. Recent studies of revision of mapping and reinterpretation of data already published, including from adjacent areas, provided the following results: the Pernambuco-Paraiba Basin is formed by the subbasins Cabo, Olinda, Alhandra, and the southern part of Canguaretama, separated by structural lines, belonging to the suite of South Atlantic basins, after their lithic fill. The subbasins Natal and northern part of Canguaretama belong still to the Potiguar Basin. One of the last links between Brazil and Africa seems to have been the northern part of the so-called Transversal Zone, between Recife and Joao Pessoa, constituting a sill until the end of the Cretaceous; this sill was tilted towards the south and broke at about the Joao Pessoa -Mamanguape region. The faunal exchange between the South and Equatorial Atlantic, before Maastrictian, took place only during transgression phases; during regression phases the sill turned probably a landbridge which permitted the exchange of terrestrial flora and fauna between the two continents.

MAP REVISION FROM STEREO‐ORTHOPHOTOGRAPHS

AbstractMap revision is now recognised as the major problem facing mapping organisations in developed countries and to a lesser extent in developing countries. This paper explores the long established, but little used, method of employing stereo‐orthophotographs, in conjunction with two instruments. The Ross Stereo‐orthophoto Plotter was developed specially for this purpose and the Cartographic Engineering CPI stereoplotter has been modified. A description is given of the techniques used to test the accuracy and efficiency of using stereo‐orthophotographs for map revision at large and medium scales. Results indicate that the method is viable.

SMALL FORMAT AERIAL SURVEYS FROM LIGHT AND MICROLIGHT AIRCRAFT

AbstractSmall format (SF) cameras, fitted to light or microlight aircraft, can provide an economic and convenient alternative to the more expensive conventional mapping systems. Further advantages accrue from the use of wider aperture lenses, an extensive range of easily available films and simplijed processing. These advantages can be exploited by employing light aircraft for small survey missions, such as map revision, and desktop photogrammetric systems dedicated to handling SF imagery. In this paper, an account is given of a research study involving SF map revision survey photography, using a modern microlight aircraft and a 70 mm metric camera.

Electron microscope analysis of the E polytene chromosome of Drosophila subobscura: region 70B to 72D.

Revision of the reference map of the polytene chromosomes of Drosophila subobscura was started by means of the electron microscope. We present a map of regions 70B to 72D of the E chromosome obtained from squashed and thin-sectioned salivary glands. It was observed that the total number of bands in divisions 70B to 72D is considerably higher than those depicted in the reference map of Kunze-Mühl and Müller. Functional considerations are made of some regions that show puff structures.

Analogue Map Revision with Seasat Sar Imagery

The paper reports on results of an experiment concerned with the use of Seasat spaceborne synthetic radar imagery for analogue map revision purposes at small and medium scales. The results show that it is sometimes possible to add new features to the map using orbital SAR imagery and that maps at scales as large as 1:63 360 could be revised and updated to a utilitarian accuracy, especially for those areas where stringent accuracy demands are not sought. IN MANY COUNTRIES in the world, topographic and thematic maps are already in existence. However, these are frequently out-of-date and their revision is a vital matter for proper development and construction. Attempts to revise maps using optical remote sensing imageries from LANDSAT have been discussed on many occasions (Zuylen, 1978; Fleming, 1976). In many cases, these attempts have proved fruitless especially in the heavily cloud-covered areas owing to lack of imagery (due to cloud) and also lack of sufficient resolution.

A study of map revision with stereo orthophotos

An investigation on map revision techniques using stereo-orthophotos is presented. To that end, a comparative study involving two photogrammetric instruments, the “Stereocompiler” and a Wild B8S, was carried out by using digital stereo-orthomodel- and stereomodel data. With regard to accuracy, it was found that the 3-dimensional specifications for a topographic map of scale 1:25 000 could be fulfilled without requiring either special ground signalization or a priori knowledge of the stereomate generation parameters. Moreover the stereo-orthophoto technique seems to offer a satisfactory cost-effectiveness.