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Previous research has indicated an increasing need for intelligent automated design. The contention of this project is that Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) techniques can be used to mimic the process of map design in cartography. A suitable environment for such a map system is considered. Attention is focused on methods for identifying and resolving conflicts that occur when spatial data are displayed using cartographic techniques. The research attempts to find a suitable mechanism for describing and identifying spatial conflicts and serves to focus attention on exactly what makes good map design. It appears that human judgement of design requires the understanding of the map as a whole and is based on geographical knowledge and an understanding of spatial processes. This is in addition to the knowledge of design and perception of maps. An appropriate method of description enables evaluation and assessment of the graphic. The potential spatial conflicts that can occur in a map, along with possible solutions for resolving those conflicts, are identified. Automated techniques were devised for identifying features in proximity and resolving those clusters by application of cartographic license (localized feature displacement). Following from this the knowledge governing the use of all generalization techniques is identified and explicitly itemized. A suitable taxonomy of rules is investigated and the knowledge implemented in a rule based system called CLARITY. The rules base contains over one hundred rules. The results and evaluation of the implementation, together with suggested further work conclude this project.

No description available.

Chromo stereoscopy (CS) is a simple and cost effective 3D system that can easily deliver geospatial information. CS has been used in several scientific data presentations, including remote sensing, physical modelling and hydrographic applications. In some of these applications the 3D effect was solely CS-related, while others integrated CS with other methods of implementing 3D. CS was mainly used in static visualisation, but no dynamic applications were found. Also, the restricted use of colour was acknowledged as a limitation for CS suggesting its unsuitability for applications where colour conventions are significant. This research focuses on CS for the marine applications and aims to (i) investigate users’ perception to CS effect and its interaction with other depth cues, (ii) assess the acceptance of the potential users to the changes in conventional colouring systems, (iii) and evaluate the usability and practicality of CS as an additional visualisation system in dynamic marine applications. To address these, visual scenarios were developed and expert human participants were recruited and interview for the evaluation. CS was well perceived among the participants. The interaction between different depth cues has advantages of increasing the depth perception and comprehending the 3D nature of the surrounding environment. For instance, from a certain view angle where two objects block each other, CS enhances the interposition effect, that indicates which object is in the front and gives a qualitative estimation of the spatial separation between them. Shading increases the realism of surface objects, and provides information for their undulation. It also dilutes the colours used in CS and increases the range of colours perceived and enhances the effect perceived from CS. The advantage of using the colour coding system to indicate distance is a valuable and original outcome of this thesis. This coding improved the participants understanding of the behaviour of moving objects (whether vessels coming closer or drifting apart) and enabled users to locate them in reference to the surrounding topography. Such knowledge is important to attain safer operations in a 3D environment. Accepting changes in colours in a visual presentation is linked to experience gained during interaction with the system, and the changes would be tolerated by the users in favour of improvements in situation awareness. Blind navigation and underwater operations are examples of where CS can be beneficial.

The Internet and other advances in technology have dramatically affected cartography in recent decades and yet these new capabilities have not been adequately evaluated for effectiveness. Are dynamic maps more effective than traditional static paper maps in allowing users to visualize spatio-temporal patterns? How important is a higher level of interactivity in visualizing data? Which format is preferred? To examine these questions, human subject tests were conducted to evaluate different levels of interactivity as represented by 1) a static paper map series; 2) an animated map with 'VCR'-type controls; and 3) a toggle map featuring an interactive temporal legend. Results indicate that while the level of interactivity did not affect accuracy of answers to questions regarding spatio-temporal patterns, the total amount of time in which these questions were answered lessened as the level of interactivity increased. Overall, test subjects were more enthusiastic towards the tools featuring greater interactivity.

Vegetation mapping is often considered the process of identifying landscape patterns of individuals or clusters of species or life forms (LF). At the landscape scale, the larger pattern represented by individuals or clusters represents the conceptualization of "vegetation mapping" and can be used as a building block to describe an ecosystem. To represent these building blocks or LF a "common entity (CE)" concept is introduced to represent the components of Formations as described by the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) system. The NVC has established protocols to consistently represent plant communities and promote coordinated management, particularly across jurisdictional boundaries. However, it is not a universal standard and the methods of producing detailed maps of vegetation CE from very high spatial resolution (VHR) remote sensing data are important research questions.This research addressed how best to understand and represent plant cover in arid regions, the most effective methods of mapping vegetation cover using high spatial resolution data, how to assess the accuracy of these maps, and their value in establishing more standardized mapping protocols across ecosystems. Utilizing VHR products from the IKONOS and QuickBird sensors the study focused on the Coronado National Memorial and Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona and Los Ajos and Pinacate - Grand Desierto Biosphere Reserves in México. Individual CE were semi-automatically mapped incorporating spectral, textural and geostatistical variables. The results were evaluated across sensors, study sites, and input variables. In addition, multiple methods of acquiring field data for accuracy assessment were evaluated and then an evaluation was made of a semi-automatic determination of Formation based on CE.The results of the study suggest consistency across study sites using the IKONOSdata. A comparison between VHR products from the same place is feasible but sensor spectral differences may affect which derived bands would improve classification. CE classification procedures were not significantly different across sensors. The overall accuracy obtained for each Park was 59.5% for Chiricahua using QuickBird and 51.9% using IKONOS; at Pinacate 70.0% using IKONOS, and 55.9% for Ajos. Incorporating the geostatistical semi-variogram variables improved CE accuracy for some CE but not all.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2004-03-26Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:14:53Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveira_ta_me_rcla.pdf: 6142759 bytes, checksum: 5baadd733a250040a3e98d3c3bcb1862 (MD5) / Uma das formas de se estudar o meio físico é compartimentá-lo, separando-o em áreas homólogas, o que permite a síntese das informações, agrupando-as dentro dessas áreas. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo obter informações do terreno através da compartimentação fisiográfica em imagem de satélite, visando o planejamento territorial do município de Cananéia, litoral sul do estado de São Paulo. A metodologia empregada, utiliza como base uma imagem Landsat 7 ETM+, e consiste na identificação de divisões fisiográficas em diferentes níveis hierárquicos de classificação. A análise dos elementos texturais de relevo e drenagem, junto com informações referentes aos mapeamentos geológicos e geomorfológicos já existentes, orientaram o processo de identificação dos compartimentos. Este método permite elaborar um produto cartográfico único, a partir da integração dos elementos constituintes do meio físico em Unidades Básicas de Compartimentação (UBCs). Essa técnica de compartimentação, apoiada por descrições de campo facilitou o estabelecimento de características fisiográficas e possibilitou estender as considerações aos diversos compartimentos. Assim, obteve-se um documento cartográfico contendo informações sobre características geotécnicas do município de Cananéia - SP, que podem servir de base para trabalhos voltados ao planejamento territorial. / One way to study the physical world is to compartmentalize it, separating it into homologous areas that permit the generalization of information, synthesizing the information within these areas. This work had the objective of obtaining terrain information by means of compartmentalizing the physiographic properties through satellite images, specifically looking at the planning of the municipality of Cananéia, along the southern coast of São Paulo State. The methodology consisted of utilizing a image of Landsat 7ETM+ and the identification of physiographic divisions in hierarchical levels of classification. The analysis of textural elements of relief and drainage, together with information referring to geomorphologic and geologic maps done by other agencies, oriented the process of compartment identification. This method, permits the elaboration of a single cartographic product, following the integration of constituent elements of the area in Basic Units of Compartmentalization (UBC's). This technique of compartmentalization, calibrated by field descriptions facilitated the establishment of fisiographic characteristics and made it possible to extend the considerations to diverse compartments. In this way, one obtains a cartographic document containing information about the geotecnical characteristics of Cananéia - SP municipality, that can serve as a base for projects associated with territorial planning.

Orientador: Paulina Setti Riedel / Banca: Juércio Tavares de Mattos / Banca: Ricardo Vedovello / Resumo: Uma das formas de se estudar o meio físico é compartimentá-lo, separando-o em áreas homólogas, o que permite a síntese das informações, agrupando-as dentro dessas áreas. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo obter informações do terreno através da compartimentação fisiográfica em imagem de satélite, visando o planejamento territorial do município de Cananéia, litoral sul do estado de São Paulo. A metodologia empregada, utiliza como base uma imagem Landsat 7 ETM+, e consiste na identificação de divisões fisiográficas em diferentes níveis hierárquicos de classificação. A análise dos elementos texturais de relevo e drenagem, junto com informações referentes aos mapeamentos geológicos e geomorfológicos já existentes, orientaram o processo de identificação dos compartimentos. Este método permite elaborar um produto cartográfico único, a partir da integração dos elementos constituintes do meio físico em Unidades Básicas de Compartimentação (UBCs). Essa técnica de compartimentação, apoiada por descrições de campo facilitou o estabelecimento de características fisiográficas e possibilitou estender as considerações aos diversos compartimentos. Assim, obteve-se um documento cartográfico contendo informações sobre características geotécnicas do município de Cananéia - SP, que podem servir de base para trabalhos voltados ao planejamento territorial. / Abstract: One way to study the physical world is to compartmentalize it, separating it into homologous areas that permit the generalization of information, synthesizing the information within these areas. This work had the objective of obtaining terrain information by means of compartmentalizing the physiographic properties through satellite images, specifically looking at the planning of the municipality of Cananéia, along the southern coast of São Paulo State. The methodology consisted of utilizing a image of Landsat 7ETM+ and the identification of physiographic divisions in hierarchical levels of classification. The analysis of textural elements of relief and drainage, together with information referring to geomorphologic and geologic maps done by other agencies, oriented the process of compartment identification. This method, permits the elaboration of a single cartographic product, following the integration of constituent elements of the area in Basic Units of Compartmentalization (UBC's). This technique of compartmentalization, calibrated by field descriptions facilitated the establishment of fisiographic characteristics and made it possible to extend the considerations to diverse compartments. In this way, one obtains a cartographic document containing information about the geotecnical characteristics of Cananéia - SP municipality, that can serve as a base for projects associated with territorial planning. / Mestre