An Attempt to Automated Generalization of Buildings and Settlement Areas in Topographic Maps

Generalization of topographic maps is a very challenging problem for map producers. Therefore, NMAs are intensively working on the matter in order to make it automated as much as possible for their production requirements. In this paper, we present a case study for automated generalization of buildings and settlement areas in Turkish topographic maps from 1:25K to 1:50K, which is implemented in Laser-Scan LAMPS2 GIS and map production software based on object-oriented database technology. It begins with the issues regarded in their generalization. Then, steps for generalization of surrounding roads of settlement areas are mentioned in a limited focus. After that comprehensive steps for generalization of buildings and settlement areas are given. At the beginning, settlement areas were stored as a whole without any direct interaction with roads. Their independent generalization created some problems and we did not have the possibility of analysing the areas surrounded by roads for the decisions in some building generalization operations. To solve these problems, we create settlement blocks using road segments after creating buffers on roads considering symbology and then partition existing settlement areas according to these blocks. After that voronoi diagrams are created and combined according to building clusters. It enabled us to analyse within the blocks for optimal generalization decisions. First results of this ongoing study are close to solution although some editing is required. It concludes with an evaluation of results, addressing future work.