A 'Drift' algorithm for integrating vector polyline and DEM based on the spherical DQG

The efficient integration method of vector and DEM data on a global scale is one of the important issues in the community of Digital Earth. Among the existing methods, geometry-based approach maintains the characteristics of vector data necessary for inquiry and analysis. However, the complexity of geometry-based approach, which needs lots of interpolation calculation, limits its applications greatly in the multi-source spatial data integration on a global scale. To overcome this serious deficiency, a novel ‘drift’ algorithm is developed based on the spherical Degenerate Quadtree Grid (DQG) on which the global DEMs data is represented. The main principle of this algorithm is that the vector node in a DQG cell can be moved to the cell corner-point without changing the visualization effects if the cell is smaller or equal to a pixel of screen. A detailed algorithm and the multi-scale operation steps are also presented. By the ‘drift’ algorithm, the vector polylines and DEM grids are integrated seamlessly, avoiding lots of interpolation calculating. Based on the approach described above, we have developed a computer program in platform OpenGL 3D API with VC++ language. In this experiment, USGS GTOPO30 DEM data and 1:1,000,000 DCW roads data sets in China area are selected. Tests have shown that time consumption of the ‘drift’ algorithm is only about 25% of that of the traditional ones, moreover, the mean error of drift operation on vector nodes can be controlled within about half a DQG cell. In the end, the conclusions and future works are also given.