The application of knowledge base and digital image analysis techniques to automated map interpretation

This paper reports on a funded research project to develop and test a microcomputer based hardware and software system that is capable of capturing and classifying digitized images of features found on topographic and production maps used by the minerals industry for exploration and planning. Images are captured using a 240 pixel-per-inch image scanner, and recognized map features are automatically incorporated into a database. Digitized images are processed using appropriate combinations of standard techniques for noise removal, boundary identification, and feature extraction. Map features are identified and feature tracing is guided by a frame-oriented knowledge-base processing system containing rules that interact with the image software. In-house development of both the image and knowledge-base processing software has greatly facilitated the necessary information flow between these two systems.