Trends and concerns in digital cartography

CISRG discussion paper ;

Computer-generated 3D models and digital storage for use in palaeontological collections, tested for xiphosurans of Eocene age from Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Geologische und paläontologische Sammlungen sind oft unzureichend elektronisch erfasst, weshalb ein angemessener wissenschaftlicher Austausch oft erschwert wird bzw. nicht möglich ist. Sammlungsdatenbanken von Museen und Universitäten geben teilweise einen guten Überblick über die jeweiligen Sammlungsbestände, liegen jedoch häufig nicht in standardisierter Form vor und verfügen zudem über keine Visualisierungsmöglichkeiten. Ein Ansatz, dieses Problem zu lösen, ist die Erweiterung der Datenbankstruktur von „Specify 6“. Um die Anwendbarkeit zu testen, wurde eine Auswahl von Sammlungsstücken aus den Geologisch-Paläontologischen Sammlungen der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, die im Institut für Geowissenschaften und Geographie in Halle (Saale) untergebracht sind und hier wissenschaftlich betreut werden, für diese Studie ausgewählt. Es handelt sich dabei um paläontologische Objekte, wie Xiphosuren (Schwertschwänze) aus dem Eozän von Sachsen-Anhalt, sowie um Teile der „Sammlung Johannes Walther“, die mit Hilfe eines Laserscansystems 3D-digitalisiert und in die modifizierte Datenbank eingepflegt wurden. Erste Ergebnisse zeigen, dass auf diesem Wege Wissenschaftler weltweit sehr schnell auf entsprechende Informationen zugreifen können und dass mit Hilfe der 3D-Scans zugleich erste Messungen und Visualisierungen möglich sind.Geological and palaeontological collections often suffer from an inability to disseminate samples and their scientific background appropriately. Databases of the collections of museums and universities already give good scientific overviews if they are set up properly, but they frequently lack standardization of the structure and visualization possibilities. To solve this problem, a new approach was started to enhance the standardized database structure of "Specify 6" to register geological and palaeontological samples in the collections of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. To test the applicability, a subset of only a few samples was taken that comprised some of the most important fossils, including xiphosurans of Eocene age, and samples of the collection of Johannes Walther. To obtain realistic and accurate 3D models, this subset was digitalized with an inexpensive laser scanning technique. The results show that small amout of technical material and the highly differentiated structure of the hierarchical database "Specify 6" lead to a result that helps scientists all over the world to obtain the appropriate scientific background information about the samples and the possibility of obtaining their own measurements and interactive visualization of 3D scans

The Design and Implementation of a Prototype Geographic Information System Using a Novel Architecture Based on PS-Algol

This thesis is concerned with the design and implementation of a novel architecture for a geographic information system based on the use of a new database language called PS-algol, in conjunction with a hybrid database structure. The main aspects discussed within the context of this thesis are:- i) the definition of a database; ii) the components and functions of a database management system; iii) the features of PS-algol; iv) the new system architecture; v) the use of operational management system; vi) data entry as carried out by the system; vii) the facility for the cartographic representation of features; viii) data retrieval and its potential use; and ix) the generation of hard-copy output The thesis also includes a review of existing geographical information systems against which the novelty of the new approach can be judged

A Data Structure for Spatio-Temporal Databases

The advantages and applications of spatial mechanisms are well documented; however, there are very few being designed. The principal hinderance to the design of spatial mechanisms is the great difficulty involved in specifying spatial problems and in interpreting spatial solutions. Similarly, the development of spatial codes to implement these techniques is held back by the lack of means to easily visualize and verify solutions, particularly in the realm of relational databases. If spatial mechanisms are to be successful, the designer must be able to synthesize, analyse and evaluate, as well as load and extract information, using a single code representing a spatial structure. This entails the implementation of spatial relationships involving spatial data structures. It is with this in mind that the Canadian Hydrographic Service database group embarked on the development of a new type of spatial database structure based on the quadtree concept

English for Geodesy and Land Management Students: tutorial.

English for Geodesy and Land Management Students is the manual for the students majoring in this specialty «Geodesy and Land Management» at higher education institutions and aimed at mastering the English language for specific purposes in this domain. The manual consists of 2 parts comprising the key theoretical issues students study at their special classes. The 1st part consists of 11 units. The 2nd part consists of 14 units. Each unit is designed in the way to provide students with the possibility to practice all language skills giving them flexibility in the field of future professional sphere. In the last part of the tutorial students can find texts for supplementary reading useful for efficient independent work

Computer-Aided Geometry Modeling

Techniques in computer-aided geometry modeling and their application are addressed. Mathematical modeling, solid geometry models, management of geometric data, development of geometry standards, and interactive and graphic procedures are discussed. The applications include aeronautical and aerospace structures design, fluid flow modeling, and gas turbine design

On the design of a multiagent user interface for Next Generation Geographic Information System

In this thesis, a multiagent user interface architecture is designed for the Next Generation Geographic Information System(NGGIS) which supports the following advanced features: multiple users, multiple views, direct manipulation, distribution, and intelligence. In this architecture, agent is a basic functional unit. Agents cooperate with each other by exchanging messages. The User is just a special agent who communicates with any other agents. The ShowCase and its cooperative agents are specialized to present the geographic objects in different views. The WorkShop and its cooperative agents provide a complete interface to allow the user to manipulate the GIS objects directly. The Monitor is specialized to enforce the semantic constrains and control the system consistency. The Interaction Expert interprets multimedia user input and generates multimedia output by driving other agents. The Selector is a cooperative agent of both WorkShop and ShowCase which allows users to select geographic objects with specific constraints