Optimizing map labeling of point features based on an onion peeling approach

Map labeling of point-features is the problem of placing text labels to corresponding point-features on a map in a way that minimizes overlaps while satisfying basic rules for the quality. This problem is a critical problem in the applications of cartography and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). In this paper we study the fundamental issues related to map labeling of point-features and develop a new genetic algorithm to solve this problem. We adopt a method called convex onion peeling and utilize it in our proposed Convex Onion Peeling Genetic Algorithm (COPGA) to efficiently manage map labels of point-features. The proposed algorithm takes advantages of the convex onion peeling structure to achieve better map label initialization and to enhance the evolutionary process resulting in the improvement of genetic algorithm for map labeling of point-features. We evaluated the performance of the proposed algorithm through extensive experiments on both synthetic and real datasets. In experiments with an implementation of our algorithm using OpenMap, the results show that our genetic algorithm based on the convex onion peeling is an efficient, robust and extensible algorithm for automated map labeling of point-features.