Trends and concerns in digital cartography

CISRG discussion paper ;

Spatial analysis, quantification and evaluation of developments in settlement structure based on topographic geodata

As the global population continues to grow, urbanization is one of the most significant anthropogenic processes linked to ecological change. But even in countries where the overall population is stagnating, migratory movements toward urban centres will continue to place pressure on the finite resource of land. Therefore, it is particularly important to determine and describe the development of settlement areas as precisely as possible in order to inform spatial planning decisions. For this reason, this dissertation presents vector-based methods to analyse, quantify and evaluate small-scale changes in settlement area. In this work, which constitutes a cumulative dissertation, novel methods are described that can be used to determine not only areal change in settlement and traffic areas (SuV), but also the type of building change and urban densification. This is of particular interest for the spatial planning of expanding metropolitan areas, where the question arises: Where, how and to which extent can built-up areas be further densified in order to reduce the consumption of land for new settlement areas? The methods presented here can facilitate spatially detailed analyses and already form the basis for a nationwide monitoring of settlement and open space development. This work shows how geometric deviations and changes in the underlying data model can be taken into account when determining SuV growth from data of the Authoritative Topographic-Cartographic Information System (ATKIS). In this context, positional inaccuracies of linearly and arealy modelled geometries are each treated in a special way so that minor positional offsets no longer affect the SuV increase. In addition, changes in the data model are accommodated by disregarding specific object reallocations when determining the SuV increase. To test these methods, the SuV increase was determined and analysed for Germany using national ATKIS data sets that feature geometric positional inaccuracies and data model changes. It could be shown that a considerable share of the calculated SuV increase is not due to real-world changes but to modelling issues. Furthermore, a novel method for the detection of building changes is presented, which focuses on the differentiation between modified and replaced buildings. It could be shown that this new approach is more accurate than other investigated methods. Furthermore, an algorithm was developed in this work to generate defined location deviations. This could be used to show how position deviations affect the accuracy of the examined procedures. The threshold values determined in this work can form the basis for similar investigations. In addition, an indicator was developed to track changes in building density. This indicator not only reflects the extent of building change but also the size of the existing building stock. Moreover, the indicator was designed in such a way as to allow comparison of the densification of developed and undeveloped areas, and thus also inner and outer urban areas. Furthermore, the indicator can be used to symmetrically calculate a decrease in the building stock, enabling a comparison of densification and de-densification processes.:1. Introduction 1.1 Motivation 1.2 Problem description 1.3 Aims 1.4 Structure 2. Dissertation main articles 2.1 Measuring land take in Germany 2.2 Detecting building change 2.3 Indicator for building densification 3. Methods for measuring settlement changes 3.1 Measuring changes through land use data 3.2 Detection of building changes 3.3 Measuring changes in building density 4. Main findings 4.1 Effects of non-real changes on land take 4.2 Distinguishing building modification and replacement 4.3 Impact of building changes on building density 4.4 How the articles are connected 4.5 Additional relevant publications 5. Conclusion and Outlook References Abbreviations List of figures List of author’s publications Articles Conference Papers Acknowledgments Appendix with publication

Inferring the Scale of OpenStreetMap Features

International audienceTraditionally, national mapping agencies produced datasets and map products for a low number of specified and internally consistent scales, i.e. at a common level of detail (LoD). With the advent of projects like OpenStreetMap, data users are increasingly confronted with the task of dealing with heterogeneously detailed and scaled geodata. Knowing the scale of geodata is very important for mapping processes such as for generalization of label placement or land-cover studies for instance. In the following chapter, we review and compare two concurrent approaches at automatically assigning scale to OSM objects. The first approach is based on a multi-criteria decision making model, with a rationalist approach for defining and parameterizing the respective criteria, yielding five broad LoD classes. The second approach attempts to identify a single metric from an analysis process, which is then used to interpolate a scale equivalence. Both approaches are combined and tested against well-known Corine data, resulting in an improvement of the scale inference process. The chapter closes with a presentation of the most pressing open problem

Evaluating the Capability of OpenStreetMap for Estimating Vehicle Localization Error

Accurate localization is an important part of successful autonomous driving. Recent studies suggest that when using map-based localization methods, the representation and layout of real-world phenomena within the prebuilt map is a source of error. To date, the investigations have been limited to 3D point clouds and normal distribution (ND) maps. This paper explores the potential of using OpenStreetMap (OSM) as a proxy to estimate vehicle localization error. Specifically, the experiment uses random forest regression to estimate mean 3D localization error from map matching using LiDAR scans and ND maps. Six map evaluation factors were defined for 2D geographic information in a vector format. Initial results for a 1.2 km path in Shinjuku, Tokyo, show that vehicle localization error can be estimated with 56.3% model prediction accuracy with two existing OSM data layers only. When OSM data quality issues (inconsistency and completeness) were addressed, the model prediction accuracy was improved to 73.1%

Context based detection of urban land use zones

This dissertation proposes an automated land-use zoning system based on the context of an urban scene. Automated zoning is an important step toward improving object extraction in an urban scene

Collective cluster-based map merging in multi robot SLAM

New challenges arise with multi-robotics, while information integration is among the most important problems need to be solved in this field. For mobile robots, information integration usually refers to map merging . Map merging is the process of combining partial maps constructed by individual robots in order to build a global map of the environment. Different approaches have been made toward solving map merging problem. Our method is based on transformational approach, in which the idea is to find regions of overlap between local maps and fuse them together using a set of transformations and similarity heuristic algorithms. The contribution of this work is an improvement made in the search space of candidate transformations. This was achieved by enforcing pair-wise partial localization technique over the local maps prior to any attempt to transform them. The experimental results show a noticeable improvement (15-20%) made in the overall mapping time using our technique

Overcoming the Challenges Associated with Image-based Mapping of Small Bodies in Preparation for the OSIRIS-REx Mission to (101955) Bennu

The OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission is the third mission in NASA's New Frontiers Program and is the first U.S. mission to return samples from an asteroid to Earth. The most important decision ahead of the OSIRIS-REx team is the selection of a prime sample-site on the surface of asteroid (101955) Bennu. Mission success hinges on identifying a site that is safe and has regolith that can readily be ingested by the spacecraft's sampling mechanism. To inform this mission-critical decision, the surface of Bennu is mapped using the OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite and the images are used to develop several foundational data products. Acquiring the necessary inputs to these data products requires observational strategies that are defined specifically to overcome the challenges associated with mapping a small irregular body. We present these strategies in the context of assessing candidate sample-sites at Bennu according to a framework of decisions regarding the relative safety, sampleability, and scientific value across the asteroid's surface. To create data products that aid these assessments, we describe the best practices developed by the OSIRIS-REx team for image-based mapping of irregular small bodies. We emphasize the importance of using 3D shape models and the ability to work in body-fixed rectangular coordinates when dealing with planetary surfaces that cannot be uniquely addressed by body-fixed latitude and longitude.Comment: 31 pages, 10 figures, 2 table

The Combined Use of Optical and SAR Data for Large Area Impervious Surface Mapping

One of the megatrends marking our societies today is the rapid growth of urban agglomerations which is accompanied by a continuous increase of impervious surface (IS) cover. In light of this, accurate measurement of urban IS cover as an indicator for both, urban growth and environmental quality is essential for a wide range of urban ecosystems studies. The aim of this work is to present an approach based on both optical and SAR data in order to quantify urban impervious surface as a continuous variable on regional scales. The method starts with the identification of relevant areas by a semi automated detection of settlement areas on the basis of single-polarized TerraSAR-X data. Thereby the distinct texture and the high density of dihedral corner reflectors prevailing in build-up areas are utilized to automatically delineate settlement areas by the use of an object-based image classification method. The settlement footprints then serve as reference area for the impervious surface estimation based on a Support Vector Regression (SVR) model which relates percent IS to spectral reflectance values. The training procedure is based on IS values derived from high resolution QuickBird data. The developed method is applied to SPOT HRG data from 2005 and 2009 covering almost the whole are of Can Tho Province in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. In addition, a change detection analysis was applied in order to test the suitability of the modelled IS results for the automated detection of constructional developments within urban environments. Overall accuracies between 84 % and 91% for the derived settlement footprints and absolute mean errors below 15% for the predicted versus training percent IS values prove the suitability of the approach for an area-wide mapping of impervious surfaces thereby exclusively focusing on settlement areas on the basis of remotely sensed image data

Estimating Autonomous Vehicle Localization Error Using 2D Geographic Information

Accurately and precisely knowing the location of the vehicle is a critical requirement for safe and successful autonomous driving. Recent studies suggest that error for map-based localization methods are tightly coupled with the surrounding environment. Considering this relationship, it is therefore possible to estimate localization error by quantifying the representation and layout of real-world phenomena. To date, existing work on estimating localization error have been limited to using self-collected 3D point cloud maps. This paper investigates the use of pre-existing 2D geographic information datasets as a proxy to estimate autonomous vehicle localization error. Seven map evaluation factors were defined for 2D geographic information in a vector format, and random forest regression was used to estimate localization error for five experiment paths in Shinjuku, Tokyo. In the best model, the results show that it is possible to estimate autonomous vehicle localization error with 69.8% of predictions within 2.5 cm and 87.4% within 5 cm

Error processes in the integration of digital cartographic data in geographic information systems.

Errors within a Geographic Information System (GIS) arise from several factors. In the first instance receiving data from a variety of different sources results in a degree of incompatibility between such information. Secondly, the very processes used to acquire the information into the GIS may in fact degrade the quality of the data. If geometric overlay (the very raison d'etre of many GISs) is to be performed, such inconsistencies need to be carefully examined and dealt with. A variety of techniques exist for the user to eliminate such problems, but all of these tend to rely on the geometry of the information, rather than on its meaning or nature. This thesis explores the introduction of error into GISs and the consequences this has for any subsequent data analysis. Techniques for error removal at the overlay stage are also examined and improved solutions are offered. Furthermore, the thesis also looks at the role of the data model and the potential detrimental effects this can have, in forcing the data to be organised into a pre-defined structure