Interactive tools for assisting the extraction of cartographic features
Bobby R. Hunt, Thomas W. Ryan, Philip J. Sementilli, David H. DeKruger · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1991
Cartographic feature extraction is a manpower intensive process, requiring detailed and tedious labor by a skilled cartographer to identify and delineate significant cartographic features from an image. The availability of digital image data has made feasible the usage of computers to aid in the extraction of features. In particular, much interest has been generated in the potential for AT and IU techniques to automate feature extraction. In this paper we report on techniques to assist the cartographer. In particular, the cartographer initiates by picking a point or points on the feature, and the tools complete the delineation process. We discuss two such tools, one which delineates line features and one which delineates area features. Both tools utilize neural nets to carry out the critical decisions on tracking feature boundaries. In both tools the cartographer is allowed to concentrate on the most important and professionally rewarding task, feature detection and identification, and is spared the most tedious task, feature boundary delineation.