Automated map generalization is a necessary technique for the construction of multi-scale vector map databases that are crucial components in spatial data infrastructure of cities, provinces, and countries. Nevertheless, this is still a dream because many algorithms for map feature generalization are not parameter-free and therefore need human’s interference. One of the major reasons is that map generalization is a process of spatial similarity transformation in multi-scale map spaces; however, no theory can be found to support such kind of transformation. This thesis focuses on the theory of spatial similarity relations in multi-scale map spaces, aiming at proposing the approaches and models that can be used to automate some relevant algorithms in map generalization. After a systematic review of existing achievements including the definitions and features of similarity in various communities, a classification system of spatial similarity relations, and the calculation models of similarity relations in the communities of psychology, computer science, music, and geography, as well as a number of raster-based approaches for calculating similarity degrees between images, the thesis achieves the following innovative contributions. First, the fundamental issues of spatial similarity relations are explored, i.e. (1) a classification system is proposed that classifies the objects processed by map generalization algorithms into ten categories; (2) the Set Theory-based definitions of similarity, spatial similarity, and spatial similarity relation in multi-scale map spaces are given; (3) mathematical language-based descriptions of the features of spatial similarity relations in multi-scale map spaces are addressed; (4) the factors that affect human’s judgments of spatial similarity relations are proposed, and their weights are also obtained by psychological experiments; and (5) a classification system for spatial similarity relations in multi-scale map spaces is proposed. Second, the models that can calculate spatial similarity degrees for the ten types of objects in multi-scale map spaces are proposed, and their validity is tested by psychological experiments. If a map (or an individual object, or an object group) and its generalized counterpart are given, the models can be used to calculate the spatial similarity degrees between them. Third, the proposed models are used to solve problems in map generalization: (1) ten formulae are constructed that can calculate spatial similarity degrees by map scale changes in map generalization; (2) an approach based on spatial similarity degree is proposed that can determine when to terminate a map generalization system or an algorithm when it is executed to generalize objects on maps, which may fully automate some relevant algorithms and therefore improve the efficiency of map generalization; and (3) an approach is proposed to calculate the distance tolerance of the Douglas-Peucker Algorithm so that the Douglas-Peucker Algorithm may become fully automatic. Nevertheless, the theory and the approaches proposed in this study possess two limitations and needs further exploration. • More experiments should be done to improve the accuracy and adaptability of the proposed models and formulae. The new experiments should select more typical maps and map objects as samples, and find more subjects with different cultural backgrounds. • Whether it is feasible to integrate the ten models/formulae for calculating spatial similarity degrees into an identical model/formula needs further investigation. In addition, it is important to find out the other algorithms, like the Douglas-Peucker Algorithm, that are not parameter-free and closely related to spatial similarity relation, and explore the approaches to calculating the parameters used in these algorithms with the help of the models and formulae proposed in this thesis.

Resumo: O objetivo desta pesquisa consiste na elaboração de mapas áudio-dinâmicos em múltiplas escalas automáticas, para um Sistema de Navegação e Guia de Rota em Automóvel (SINGRA). O projeto das representações cartográficas foi dividido em duas fases: projeto de composição geral e projeto áudio-gráfico. Os mapas visuais dinâmicos foram elaborados com base nos princípios da comunicação cartográfica e da percepção visual, com ênfase nas operações de generalização. A área de estudo apresenta uma malha urbana com diferentes tipos de vias, cruzamentos e limites de velocidade. Os mapas foram projetados para serem exibidos em um monitor de pequeno formato (sete polegadas), com alta resolução, e um total de quatro escalas de representação foi determinado: 1/10.000, 1/5.000, 1/2.500 e 1/1.000. Tais escalas foram definidas em função do tamanho da mídia de apresentação e do tipo de tarefa tática. Os mapas generalizados foram obtidos pela aplicação das operações de simplificação, exagero e deslocamento, sobre uma base cartográfica na escala 1/1.000. As representações áudio-dinâmicas foram produzidas a partir de variáveis áudio-dinâmicas. As mensagens de voz foram pré-gravadas na voz feminina, executadas em sincronia com as informações visuais. O projeto foi implementado em um SINGRA disponível na FCT-UNESP, a partir do compilador Visual Basic e da biblioteca MapObjects. Ao comparar o sistema de múltiplas escalas com o de escala única, observa-se que os novos mapas adaptados ao contexto de direção do motorista, podem permitir que o usuário receba a informação de acordo com a tarefa de navegação desenvolvida ao longo da rota ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The aim of this research is to design and implement an automatics multi-scale and audio-dynamic map for an In-Car Route Guidance and Navigation System (RGNS). The design was organized in two stages: general composition and auditory-graphic design. The visual-dynamic maps were designed based on cartographic communication principles and visual perception, especially on the generalization operators. The area of study presents an urban network with different types of roads, nodes, and speed limits. The maps were designed for a small-screen display, and a total of four different scales were employed: 1:10.000, 1:5.000, 1:2.500 and 1:1.000. These scales were chosen according to the media size and type of tactical task. The maps were derived from an accurate cartographic database at scale of 1:1000, by applying generalization techniques, such as simplification, displacement, and enhancement. The audio-dynamic representations were produced by taking account a set of audio-dynamic variables. The voice messages were recorded in a female voice, and they were presented with visual information, simultaneously. The design was implemented in a navigation system, which is available in the Faculty of Sciences and Technology, by using Visual Basic compiler and MapObjects library. The results of comparison between the automatic multiple-scale and single scale system show that the new system, enhanced driver's context, can allow the user receiving information according to the tasks performed along of the route. From the employment of generalization technique it was possible to present in a properly way the amount of information in the display, in which it can contribute for reducing navigational errors and visual demand, when compared with single-scale map ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Mônica Modesta Santos Decanini / Coorientador: Edmur Azevedo Pugliesi / Banca: Claudia Robbi Sluter / Banca: Milton Hirokazu Shimabukuro / Mestre

Une carte multi-échelle est un ensemble de cartes à différentes échelles, dans lequel l’utilisateur peut naviguer via un géoportail. Chacune de ces cartes est préalablement construite par généralisation cartographique, processus qui adapte la représentation cartographique à une échelle donnée. Les changements de représentations qu’implique la généralisation entre deux cartes à différentes échelles sont susceptibles de perturber l’utilisateur, rendant sa navigation plus difficile. Nous proposons dans cette thèse d’ajouter des représentations intermédiaires dans une carte multi-échelle existante, pour créer une évolution plus fluide du contenu cartographique au fil des échelles. Alors que de solides connaissances théoriques existent pour la conception cartographique traditionnelle, on ne sait pas encore comment concevoir une carte multi-échelle efficace. Pour formaliser des connaissances à ce sujet, nous avons étudié un panel de seize cartes multi-échelles existantes. Nous avons analysé les systèmes de zoom utilisés ainsi que l’évolution des représentations cartographiques au fil des échelles, en particulier les changements de niveaux d’abstraction pour les objets bâtis et routiers. Nous avons aussi évalué la variation de complexité visuelle du contenu cartographique au fil des échelles, en utilisant des mesures de clutter visuel. Nous avons ainsi identifié les tendances générales en termes de représentations multi-échelles (comme l’application du standard WMTS), certains facteurs que nous considérons comme ayant une influence négative sur la navigation de l’utilisateur (comme l’utilisation d’une même carte à différentes échelles), ainsi que des pratiques intéressantes visant à la faciliter (comme les représentations mixtes). A partir de ces constats, nous avons formulé des hypothèses sur l’influence des variables de construction des représentations intermédiaires sur la fluidité de navigation. Nous avons construit un matériel de test à partir d’un extrait de la carte multi-échelle Scan Express de l’IGN, entre les cartes existant au 1 : 25k et au 1 : 100k. Nous avons ainsi produit quatre versions différentes de représentations intermédiaires entre ces deux cartes, implémentant nos différentes hypothèses. Cet exercice nous a permis de mieux cerner les verrous techniques que soulève la production de représentations intermédiaires. Nous avons enfin conduit un test utilisateurs contrôlé, en demandant à 15 participants de réaliser une tâche cartographique sur ces différentes cartes multi-échelles, pour évaluer la pertinence de nos hypothèses / A multi-scale map is a set of maps at different scales, displayed on mapping applications, in which users may navigate by zooming in or out. Each of these maps is produced beforehand by cartographic generalization, which aims to adapt the cartographic representation for a target scale. Due to generalization, the representation changes between maps at different scales may disturb the user during its navigation. We assume that adding intermediate representations in an existing multi-scale map may enable a smooth evolution of cartographic content across scales. While theoretical knowledge exists for traditional cartography, we still do not know how to design efficient multi-scale maps. To formalize knowledge on that subject, we studied sixteen existing multi-scale maps. We focused on the used zooming system (zoom levels and display scales) and on the evolution of cartographic representations across scales, in particular for building and road entities. We also analyzed the variation of visual complexity of the map content across scales, using visual clutter measures. We thus identified general trends in terms of multi-scale representation (i.e. use of WMTS standard), some potential disturbing factors (i.e. use of a same map at different scales), but also good practices which may ease the user navigation (i.e. mixed representations). Based on these findings, we made assumptions on the influence of intermediate representations design on user navigation. We built test material from an extract of the Scan Express multi-scale map of the French IGN, between the existing maps at 1:25k and 1:100k scales. We thus produced four different versions of intermediate representations between these two maps, implementing our different hypotheses. This way, we highlighted the technical issues that we faced when producing intermediate representations. Finally, we conducted a controlled user study, asking 15 participants to perform a cartographic task on these different multi-scale maps, to evaluate our hypotheses

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-04-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:08:12Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 marques_aps_me_prud.pdf: 1844754 bytes, checksum: 98269ab519565c997b4f261950db8198 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O objetivo desta pesquisa consiste na elaboração de mapas áudio-dinâmicos em múltiplas escalas automáticas, para um Sistema de Navegação e Guia de Rota em Automóvel (SINGRA). O projeto das representações cartográficas foi dividido em duas fases: projeto de composição geral e projeto áudio-gráfico. Os mapas visuais dinâmicos foram elaborados com base nos princípios da comunicação cartográfica e da percepção visual, com ênfase nas operações de generalização. A área de estudo apresenta uma malha urbana com diferentes tipos de vias, cruzamentos e limites de velocidade. Os mapas foram projetados para serem exibidos em um monitor de pequeno formato (sete polegadas), com alta resolução, e um total de quatro escalas de representação foi determinado: 1/10.000, 1/5.000, 1/2.500 e 1/1.000. Tais escalas foram definidas em função do tamanho da mídia de apresentação e do tipo de tarefa tática. Os mapas generalizados foram obtidos pela aplicação das operações de simplificação, exagero e deslocamento, sobre uma base cartográfica na escala 1/1.000. As representações áudio-dinâmicas foram produzidas a partir de variáveis áudio-dinâmicas. As mensagens de voz foram pré-gravadas na voz feminina, executadas em sincronia com as informações visuais. O projeto foi implementado em um SINGRA disponível na FCT-UNESP, a partir do compilador Visual Basic e da biblioteca MapObjects. Ao comparar o sistema de múltiplas escalas com o de escala única, observa-se que os novos mapas adaptados ao contexto de direção do motorista, podem permitir que o usuário receba a informação de acordo com a tarefa de navegação desenvolvida ao longo da rota... / The aim of this research is to design and implement an automatics multi-scale and audio-dynamic map for an In-Car Route Guidance and Navigation System (RGNS). The design was organized in two stages: general composition and auditory-graphic design. The visual-dynamic maps were designed based on cartographic communication principles and visual perception, especially on the generalization operators. The area of study presents an urban network with different types of roads, nodes, and speed limits. The maps were designed for a small-screen display, and a total of four different scales were employed: 1:10.000, 1:5.000, 1:2.500 and 1:1.000. These scales were chosen according to the media size and type of tactical task. The maps were derived from an accurate cartographic database at scale of 1:1000, by applying generalization techniques, such as simplification, displacement, and enhancement. The audio-dynamic representations were produced by taking account a set of audio-dynamic variables. The voice messages were recorded in a female voice, and they were presented with visual information, simultaneously. The design was implemented in a navigation system, which is available in the Faculty of Sciences and Technology, by using Visual Basic compiler and MapObjects library. The results of comparison between the automatic multiple-scale and single scale system show that the new system, enhanced driver's context, can allow the user receiving information according to the tasks performed along of the route. From the employment of generalization technique it was possible to present in a properly way the amount of information in the display, in which it can contribute for reducing navigational errors and visual demand, when compared with single-scale map ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)