SBIR-STTR Award

This project is to develop new cools for the automated update and validation of legacy geographic information system (GIS) vector datasets.These tools permit legacy vector map data to be efficiently refined by verifying their internal logical consistency and by improving the process in which they can be registered to more accurate image sources. Automatic validation of vector maps is accomplished by applying a set of logical consistency rules written in a rule-based language to queryand modify the data. Automated registration of a vector map to an image is performed in the image domain, using image pattern matching techniques, and in the vector-domain, using an innovative raster-to-vectorconversion process that takes advantage of ESEA's conflation algorithms to utilize legacy vector data. A flexible object-oriented vector database is used to adjust non-visible map elements, such as political boundaries, to maintain their consistency with visible elements. Phase I provides a conceptual design of the complete tool set. The tools developed in the project will significantly enhance capability for updating legacy map data to the accuracy standards required for the current and future GIS needs of the United States armed forces.

Benefits:
Asboth government and commercial organizations update geospatial datasets with data from multiple sources and of different types, automated tools are necessary for map updating and map quality assurance. This need creates a market demand for tools that (1) automatically align vector feature data to imagery data and (2) verify internal map consistency consistency.

The ability to conduct operations in the modern battlefield has become dependent upon the availability of accurate and up-to-date geographic data. The need for efficient tools to update and verify the accuracy of these datasets has become increasingly apparent. This project is to develop new tools for automating the registration of vector datasets to ortho-rectified imagery and for verifying the logical consistency of feature data across multiple thematic layers. Registration of vector maps will be achieved through using algorithms that automatically find points in a raster image that correspond to road intersections in a vector map. Automated validation of vector datasets will be accomplished by applying a set of logical consistency rules written in a rule-based language to query and modify the data. The software tools will be integrated into a Map Update and Validation Toolkit where they will share the same VPF import and export modules, object oriented vector database and interactive vector map display. The results of the Phase II research promise to advance the state-of-the-art in map productions allowing vector maps to be created and updated in less time and with greater accuracy.

Benefits:
As both government and commercial organizations update geospatial datasets with data from multiple sources, automated tools are necessary for map updating and map quality assurance. This need creates a market demand for tools that automatically (1) align vector feature data to imagery data and (2) verify internal map consistency