Showing papers in "Cartographic Journal in 2010"
TL;DR: In this article, it is suggested that the data hold an intrinsic quality assurance measure through the analysis of the number of contributors who have worked on a given spatial unit, which is known as "Linus' Law" within the open source community.
Abstract: In the area of volunteered geographical information (VGI), the issue of spatial data quality is a clear challenge. The data that are contributed to VGI projects do not comply with standard spatial data quality assurance procedures, and the contributors operate without central coordination and strict data collection frameworks. However, similar to the area of open source software development, it is suggested that the data hold an intrinsic quality assurance measure through the analysis of the number of contributors who have worked on a given spatial unit. The assumption that as the number of contributors increases so does the quality is known as 'Linus' Law' within the open source community. This paper describes three studies that were carried out to evaluate this hypothesis for VGI using the OpenStreetMap dataset, showing that this rule indeed applies in the case of positional accuracy.
329 citations
TL;DR: A new technique for the visual exploration of origins (O) and destinations (D) arranged in geographic space, comparable with the process of constructing OD matrices, but unlike the OD matrix, which preserves the spatial layout of all origin and destination locations by constructing a gridded two-level spatial treemap.
Abstract: We present a new technique for the visual exploration of origins (O) and destinations (D) arranged in geographic space. Previous attempts to map the flows between origins and destinations have suffered from problems of occlusion usually requiring some form of generalisation, such as aggregation or flow density estimation before they can be visualized. This can lead to loss of detail or the introduction of arbitrary artefacts in the visual representation. Here, we propose mapping OD vectors as cells rather than lines, comparable with the process of constructing OD matrices, but unlike the OD matrix, we preserve the spatial layout of all origin and destination locations by constructing a gridded two-level spatial treemap. The result is a set of spatially ordered small multiples upon which any arbitrary geographic data may be projected. Using a hash grid spatial data structure, we explore the characteristics of the technique through a software prototype that allows interactive query and visua...
217 citations
TL;DR: The goal of this research has been to systemize the possible approaches to aggregation of movement data into a framework clearly defining what kinds of exploratory tasks each approach is suitable for, and to discuss the appropriate methods of data aggregation and the visualisation techniques representing the results of aggregation.
Abstract: To be able to explore visually large amounts of movement data, it is necessary to apply methods for aggregation and summarisation of the data. The goal of our research has been to systemize the possible approaches to aggregation of movement data into a framework clearly defining what kinds of exploratory tasks each approach is suitable for. On the basis of a formal model of movement of multiple entities, we consider two possible views of movement data, situation-oriented and trajectory-oriented. For each view, we discuss the appropriate methods of data aggregation and the visualisation techniques representing the results of aggregation and supporting data exploration. Special attention is given to dynamic aggregation working in combination with interactive filtering and classification of movement data (CR categories and subject descriptors: H.1·2 [user/machine systems]: human information processing - visual analytics; I.6·9 [visualisation]: information visualisation).
88 citations
TL;DR: A new kind of representation, termed a value-by-alpha map, which visually equalizes the basemap by adjusting the alpha channel, rather than the size, of each enumeration unit, is described.
Abstract: The cartogram, or value-by-area map, is a popular technique for cartographically representing social data. Such maps visually equalize a basemap before mapping a social variable by adjusting the size of each enumeration unit by a second, related variable. However, to scale the basemap units according to an equalizing variable, cartograms must distort the shape and/or topology of the original geography. Such compromises reduce the effectiveness of the visualisation for elemental and general map-reading tasks. Here we describe a new kind of representation, termed a value-by-alpha map, which visually equalizes the basemap by adjusting the alpha channel, rather than the size, of each enumeration unit. Although not without its own limitations, the value-by-alpha map is able to circumvent the compromise inherent to the cartogram form, perfectly equalizing the basemap while preserving both shape and topology.
79 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluate the effectiveness of area cartogram for visualizing spatial data and compare them with thematic maps and cartograms, and find that cartogram is more effective than thematic map.
Abstract: Cartogram is a technique for visualisation of the geographical distribution of spatial data It has two main types, ie distance cartogram and area cartogram Area cartogram is a transformed map in which areas are resized in proportion to an attribute value A number of techniques have been developed for the generation of area cartograms Some researchers consider cartogram as a very effective technique for visualisation of spatial data, while others doubt about the effectiveness because of the possible distortion in shape and/or disconnectivity in topology This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of area cartogram for visualizing spatial data In this study, two comparative experiments have been conducted One is the comparison between thematic maps and cartograms, and the other is the comparison among different types of area cartogram Two sets of data with different characteristics are used, ie 2005 China population data and 1996 US election data Results show that cartogram is
52 citations
TL;DR: The use of soundscapes on digital maps in order to enrich our experience of the map use has been recognized as a part of other multimedia components in several previous research projects as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: title/>The use of soundscapes on digital maps in order to enrich our experience of the map use has been recognized as a part of other multimedia components in several previous research projects. The study described in this paper was conducted as part of ongoing research projects aiming to develop mobile and web applications for outdoor activities. The research describes the aims of finding new kinds of ways of communicating spatial information, even to those who are visually impaired, and, in general, to provide map users with a profounder use experience. The paper reviews previous studies and describes the sonic map implementations accomplished to date. The implementation examples presented cover a hiking use case in a national park. Sonic maps can help the users to plan their hike in advance and further provide those who are not able to visit the park with a multimodal experience of the atmosphere. Finally, conclusions are given and possible improvements for the future are discussed.
36 citations
TL;DR: The challenges for automated generalisation at European NMAs are presented integrating a qualitative and quantitative analysis and the status of automatedgeneralisation functionality at NMAs is measured using the required and missing generalisation operators as indicators.
Abstract: The automation of generalisation is an important issue at National Mapping Agencies (NMAs) to reduce data production costs and to improve data maintenance. This paper presents the challenges for automated generalisation at European NMAs integrating a qualitative and quantitative analysis. The qualitative analysis focuses on the current strategies for automated generalisation at NMAs. The quantitative analysis extends these findings and measures the status of automated generalisation functionality at NMAs using the required and missing generalisation operators as indicators. The results are interesting for the research community, the software vendors and NMAs to streamline their efforts to accomplish full automation of generalisation processes.
33 citations
TL;DR: Chorematic diagrams are prospective candidates for communicating highly generalised geographic information about a given region of interest as discussed by the authors, and were popularized in France as early as the early 1800s.
Abstract: title/>Chorematic diagrams are prospective candidates for communicating highly generalised geographic information about a given region of interest. Chorematic diagrams were popularized in France as...
27 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the advantages of this specific projection when designing 3D maps are presented, the processes involved in its manual construction, as well as the existing and potential digital implementation approaches, are reviewed.
Abstract: The progressive projection is by origin a manual cartographic technique, traditionally used by panoramic landscape painters; however, it is rarely encountered in digitally created three-dimensional (3D) maps. In this article, the advantages of this specific projection when designing 3D maps are presented, the processes involved in its manual construction, as well as the existing and potential digital implementation approaches, are reviewed. A new algorithmic solution is described, allowing for user-friendly interactive bending of a terrain model into a progressive view, with options to add a curved horizon, to vertically exaggerate the terrain, and to create a 360° strip panorama. The resulting software, Terrain Bender, is freely available for download.
24 citations
TL;DR: A unified, complete methodology using the existing methods and applying them to official cartographic databases in the region of Andalucía (southern Spain) is presented, demonstrating the viability of this control and the potential use of this methodology compared to traditional point-based quality control.
Abstract: title/>Positional quality control in cartography based on linear features represents an evolution of the traditional procedures based on points. These methods have been developed independently or theoretically and applied as examples to small, disparate databases. In this paper, we present a unified, complete methodology using the existing methods and applying them to official cartographic databases in the region of Andalucia (southern Spain). For this purpose, we use a sample of roadways observed with GPS. The results obtained demonstrate the viability of this control and the potential use of this methodology compared to traditional point-based quality control.
23 citations
TL;DR: The research and development presented here have been carried out within an application-oriented research project of the University of Zurich in cooperation with the company Axes Systems, with the focus on improving automated generalisation for topographic map production.
Abstract: The process of topographic map production at the national mapping agencies is undergoing steady change. The pressure to reduce production cost in particular hassled to the development and use of new approaches. Traditionally, separate datasets and models have been used to produce topographic maps of different scales and even the sources of data often differ. As a consequence, the derived datasets on different scales are usually inconsistent and thus cannot be updated in a common process. With the transition to GIS-based cartography, these disadvantages will be overcome. The research and development presented here have been carried out within an application-oriented research project of the University of Zurich in cooperation with the company Axes Systems. The focus has been on improving automated generalisation for topographic map production. A multiple representation database with extended linkage information was first implemented. These so-called vertical relations enable the storage of meta-information, which is needed to make the generalisations used during incremental updates. Second, a data model of horizontal relations was developed, to model contextual information explicitly. Examples of applications are the subdivision and partition of datasets, and the modelling of feature groups. Third, a service-oriented architecture was established, enabling a platform-independent development and the provision of generalisation functionality. In addition, an embedded workflow management system was introduced, consisting of a workflow editor and workflow engine, to support the interactive configuration of the generalisation process and the automated execution of generalisation services.
TL;DR: This study evaluated the benefits of a sonification extension to ArcGIS which represented the positional accuracy of address locations using piano notes to examine applications to climate scenarios and visualisations of future landscapes, as well as other aspects of sound.
Abstract: Uncertainty data is often ignored by spatial data users, for a number of reasons including difficulty of comprehension and limited methods of display. An extension to ArcGIS was created to allow the positional accuracy of address locations to be represented sonically using piano notes. This was evaluated by 49 spatial data users during a computerbased evaluation and subsequent discussion sessions. Two factors that had a significant impact on successful interpretation were the proportion of the attribute under investigation in the data and the presentation method. Knowledge of the data source also appeared important. Future studies will broaden the applications to include climate scenario data and virtual reality visualisations of future landscapes, as well as different aspects of sound.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the influence of cultural background factors on both the design and comprehension of map symbols and use findings from a symbol design project for situation maps in international crisis management.
Abstract: title/>International crisis management is a field where numerous national, organisational and domain cultures encounter one another, causing problems in information transfer between various actors. The symbols used in situation maps in this kind of an environment should be culturally independent and value-free in order to be properly understood. However, designing culturally independent symbols is difficult because the cultural background of an individual is complex and influences the interpretation of symbols in many ways. In this paper, we discuss the influences of different cultural background factors on both the design and the comprehension of map symbols. Cultural influences are considered as conventions in code systems, definitions in formal and informal conceptual models, and conventions in aesthetic judgments. As examples in the discussion, we use findings from a symbol design project for situation maps in international crisis management.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss some potential applications of the lenticular foil technique for thematic cartography on a theoretical basis, and discuss how to apply it to thematic maps.
Abstract: title/>Lenticular visualisation methods are innovative advancements of modern presentation media in cartography. Owing to the mainly three-dimensional perception of people, this technique, in print as well as on screen, offers the possibility to introduce autostereoscopic, i.e. three-dimensional views in cartography. On the basis of true 3D, it has already found its way into the visualisation of relief relations. Moreover, it also opens perspectives for the more widespread products of thematic cartography (thematic maps). Multi-layered representation becomes possible on the basis of three-dimensional or sequentially differentiated depictions of spatial phenomena. Thus, several parameters or dimensions of cartographic content can be displayed at the same time. This essay discusses some potential applications of the lenticular foil technique for thematic cartography on a theoretical basis.
TL;DR: Use cases, the characteristics of the most common gaming devices, and spatial navigation with gamepads and joysticks for globes, block diagrams and 2D maps are presented.
Abstract: Gamepads and joysticks have the potential to improve spatial navigation in virtual globes, block diagrams and 2D maps. Digital school atlases, in particular, can become more engaging if support for gamepads and joysticks is added, as children and adolescents are very proficient at using these devices. The fusion of gaming devices and interactive school atlases offers interesting new use cases: teachers can control a digital wall map with a remote-control gamepad while lecturing from the front of the classroom, or students can explore maps on their personal computers using an enticing way to interact. This paper presents these use cases, the characteristics of the most common gaming devices, and discusses spatial navigation with gamepads and joysticks for globes, block diagrams and 2D maps. The ideas presented originated from the ongoing development of a new, interactive version of the Swiss World Atlas for schools.
TL;DR: A multi-scale visualisation of traffic delay derived from automatic number plate reading (ANPR) data is developed to enable traffic commuting patterns to and from Central London to be understood and analysed further.
Abstract: Traffic delays can be used to quantify traffic congestion on the road. However, traffic delay data itself cannot provide readily useful content about congestion directly. The aim of this research is to develop a multi-scale visualisation of traffic delay (excess travel time in minutes per kilometre) derived from automatic number plate reading (ANPR) data, to enable traffic commuting patterns to and from Central London to be understood and analysed further.
TL;DR: Design principles for the symbolisation of scree fields on mountain slopes are identified and a digital method for the quick placement of dot symbols requiring only minimal interventions by a cartographer is presented.
Abstract: Scree patterns are an important element of mountain maps in Swiss style. The size and density of scree dots vary with the exposition towards a source of illumination, which makes the dots extremely labour intensive to map without specialized algorithms. This paper identifies design principles for the symbolisation of scree fields on mountain slopes and presents a digital method for the quick placement of dot symbols requiring only minimal interventions by a cartographer. When digitally produced scree is combined with a shaded relief and a rock drawing, the terrain appears as a continuous three-dimensional surface to the reader. The described method is implemented in Scree Painter, a specialized free open-source software application. Scree patterns produced with Scree Painter match the quality standards of manually generated scree representations.
TL;DR: The focus of this paper is to explore partitioning and generalisation methodologies that can be applied to digital elevation data - the ambition being to derive generalized descriptions of morphology at the National Scale (for the UK).
Abstract: title/>Map generalisation is a modelling process in which it is typical that detailed, high dimensional geographic phenomena are reduced down to a set of ‘higher order’, yet more generalized set of phenomena (for example, a large cluster of buildings is reduced to ‘city’). This process of generalisation necessarily requires us to handle large volumes of data which results in high processing overheads. One way of managing this is to partition the data. When geographically partitioning data, we need to partition in such a way that each partition can be generalized without having to consider regions outside any given partition. The focus of this paper is to explore partitioning and generalisation methodologies that can be applied to digital elevation data - the ambition being to derive generalized descriptions of morphology at the National Scale (for the UK). The paper describes and compares two solutions to this problem, and demonstrates how it is possible to apply generalisation algorithms to natio...
TL;DR: For example, during World War II, temporary Royal Engineers officers W. R. King and F. W. Foster-Smith as discussed by the authors remotely generated water supply maps at a scale of 1: 50 000 for coastal areas of northern France eastward from the Cherbourg peninsula to Calais: the first series of British groundwater development potential maps.
Abstract: During World War II, between September 1943 and April 1944, temporary Royal Engineers officers W. B. R. King and F. W. Shotton remotely generated water supply maps at a scale of 1: 50 000 for coastal areas of northern France eastward from the Cherbourg peninsula to Calais: the first series of British groundwater development potential maps. These maps guided drilling of at least 30 boreholes, neecled to supply water to British installations in Normandy following the Allied landings that commenced on D-Day, 6 June 1944: part of the infrastructure necessary to facilitate the ensuing mobile campaign. Additionally, between April and September 1944, Shotton and King assisted by the Cambridge academic Maurice Black similarly compiled maps but 1: 250 000 in scale for northern France eastwards from Brittany into Belgium. These guided emplacement of at least 20 Royal Engineer boreholes in Belgium during late 1944 and early 1945, part of the infrastructure for the final advance of Allied troops into Germany. Between November 1944 and May 1945, maps also at 1: 250 000 and of similar but developing style were prepared for much of northern Germany by W. R. Williams and J. R. Foster-Smith, also temporary Royal Engineers officers but of the Inter-Service Topographical Department, easing the pressure of work on Shotton and his colleagues generated by campaign momentum. One of these maps guided emplacement of the few British boreholes sited in western Germany by May 1945, as the war in Europe came to an end. Overall, British military maps were innovations distinct in style from water supply maps compiled for contemporary German or US forces. They helped to pioneer British hydrogeological mapping, which has developed extensively post-war but under entirely civilian auspices.
TL;DR: In this article, a detailed analysis of historical maps across centuries demonstrates that this contested island has been illustrated with a blending of reality, misconception and imagination, revealing political rulers' conscious and unconscious perceptions of this island.
Abstract: During the past 400 years, Taiwan has experienced the dominance of various political regimes, which allowed the development of a diversity of cartographic styles for academic comparison. A detailed analysis of historical maps across centuries demonstrates that this contested island has been illustrated with a blending of reality, misconception and imagination. This paper narrates how maps reveal political rulers’ conscious and unconscious perceptions of this island. We call attention to the abundant cartographic materials in existence and suggest that they can be fascinating materials for the study of the contested colonial histories of this island in various disciplines.
TL;DR: The most important feature of this work is that it combines numerous maps with geographical information on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, which allowed users instant access to substantial information which was not or could not be included in the maps.
Abstract: title/>Piri Reis was a celebrated navigator and explorer of the sixteenth century. He very keenly observed the places he visited and drew upon his personal notes as well as information and documents he obtained from others to produce very important cartographic maps that were of particular benefit for people engaged in navigation. He collected most of these maps in his work titled Kitab-i Bahriye (Book of Navigation). The most important feature of this work is that it combines numerous maps with geographical information on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. This feature allowed users instant access to substantial information which was not or could not be included in the maps. As a very important work, there are a number of manuscript copies of Kitab-i Bahriye preserved in various museums, yet scholarly studies on Kitab-i Bahriye are still scarce. The present study aims to contribute to the promotion of the work and help to initiate academic research in various fields.
TL;DR: The automatic method ensures that symbols do not overlap and do not graphically conflict with other map features, and is implemented in a free plug-in for the Adobe Illustrator vector graphics editor.
Abstract: title/>Patterns consisting of point symbols are commonly applied to symbolize land cover. Tree symbols, for example, indicate forested areas; small irregular dots show quarries and pits; or regular line symbols represent a vineyard. This paper presents an automatic method for synthesizing patterns consisting of one or more point symbols. Symbols of varying sizes or graphical appearance can be combined according to user-defined ratios. The automatic method generates patterns of regularly or irregularly distributed symbols. It ensures that symbols do not overlap and do not graphically conflict with other map features. The method has been implemented in a free plug-in for the Adobe Illustrator vector graphics editor.
TL;DR: In this paper, an alternative to the traditional trail map is designed by reducing a mountain and its trails to topological primitives, which can be used for on-mountain navigation.
Abstract: title/>Trail maps for winter sports often take the form of highly illustrative landscape paintings, or panoramas, overprinted with trails and lifts to allow winter sports enthusiasts a mechanism for on-mountain navigation. The character of mountain environments lends itself particularly well to the panoramic representation which creates aesthetically pleasing representations that have become the de facto standard for trail mapping in ski resorts. Using them for navigating on mountain is not always easy since conditions, map perspective, orientation and the illustrative form often make reading the map awkward. Here, an alternative to the traditional trail map is designed by reducing a mountain and its trails to topological primitives. Harry Beck's famous London Underground provided inspiration to depict ski trails as a schematic network for the primary purpose of navigation. The schematic map illustrates the 176 trails in Breckenridge, CO, USA, derived from GPS tracklogs and incorporates a range of...
TL;DR: In this article, the evolution and development of photogrammetric mapping techniques by the Ordnance Survey as applied to tidal line surveying is discussed, in particular the use of the photogrammogrammography to improve the consistency and reduce the costs of tidal line mapping.
Abstract: Coastal maps and charts represent one of the few longer-term datasets which can potentially be used to analyse coastal change over the last 200 years. Mapping of coastal areas has often been unreliable, inconsistent and a low priority. One feature which has been mapped periodically is the line of the high and low water lines of the tides. Tidal line mapping has periodically been carried out by the Ordnance Survey throughout the late nineteenth and first half of the twentieth centuries; data were largely recorded using land survey techniques. The Ordnance Survey was legally obliged to map and print the tidal lines of coastal areas as they represented the seaward edge of the parish boundary. Tidal lines are transient features and were often difficult, if not dangerous to record in the field. As a result, from 1947 onwards, the Ordnance Survey experimented with photogrammetric techniques in an attempt to improve the consistency and reduce the costs of tidal surveys. This paper reviews the mapping of tidal lines and in particular discusses the evolution and development of photogrammetric mapping techniques by the Ordnance Survey as applied to tidal line surveying.
TL;DR: An algorithm of buffer construction incorporating run-length encoding and the idea of raster overlay method, on which the raster-based operations are carried out has integrated advantages with respect to time complexity, space complexity and computational accuracy.
Abstract: title/>This paper presents an algorithm of buffer construction incorporating run-length encoding and the idea of raster overlay method. In traditional raster methods, the buffer target is traced and scanned using a ‘brush’, the width of which is equal to the buffer distance. During this process, the brushed raster grids are marked. Then by carrying out dynamic calculation on these marked grids, the buffer zone, constituted of grids, would be generated. Finally, the desired boundary of the buffer zone could be obtained through vectorisation. Considering the obvious drawbacks of raster data in computing efficiency and storage capacity, this paper puts forward the idea of storing raster data by means of run-length encoding, on which the raster-based operations are carried out. In order to improve the spatial precision, the borderlines of each run-length unit are recorded in the data of real type. The tests and analyses indicate that this algorithm has integrated advantages with respect to time comple...
TL;DR: In this article, a bird's-eye look at Nigeria's homegrown cartographic heritage is presented, where various local means of representing and communicating geospatial information are discussed and the invaluable benefits of the indigenous cartography heritage as well as how to preserve it.
Abstract: Over the ages, Nigerians have had various indigenous ways of spatial representation, otherwise known as ‘alternative cartographies’. Paradoxically, however, the indigenous cartographic heritage of the Nigerian people has altogether remained unsung despite its immense contributions to societal development. This paper, therefore, is a modest attempt aimed at bringing the forgotten issue of Nigeria’s cartographic legacy to the limelight. The paper takes a bird’s-eye look at Nigeria’s homegrown cartographic heritage. The various local means of representing and communicating geospatial information are discussed. The paper equally highlights the invaluable benefits of indigenous cartographic heritage as well as how to preserve such heritage.
TL;DR: An approach based on triangulation is introduced for creating road centerlines from blocks of parcel in which blocks of parcels are captured as polygons and roads are represented by the space between them.
Abstract: Changes in object geometry-type such as area to line are necessary in terms of the requirements of cartographic generalisation, and also for the creation of the network topology in geographical information systems. Geometry-type changes that reduce dimension include area-line, area-point and line-point changes. This study focuses on area-line changes. Since the area objects have different shapes, there is no unique solution that works in all possible situations. Well-known methods for area-line changes include triangulation, water lining, straight skeletons, etc. In this paper, an approach based on triangulation is introduced for creating road centerlines from blocks of parcels. Spaghetti large-scale map data are taken into consideration in this approach in which blocks of parcels are captured as polygons and roads are represented by the space between them. In order to implement this approach, a subprogram (script) is developed under the NETCAD software package - a Turkish CAD-GIS software...
TL;DR: For a number of years, debates on the way in which Ordnance Survey operates and the terms of its data use and reuse policies have been hotly contested as discussed by the authors, with advocates of a free data policy have been vocal in their criticism of the current model and claim significant additional social and economic value would be generated from free map data.
Abstract: For a number of years, debates on the way in which Ordnance Survey operates and the terms of its data use and reuse policies have been hotly contested. On one side, advocates of a free data policy have been vocal in their criticism of the current model and claim significant additional social and economic value would be generated from free map data. On the other, Ordnance Survey has had to defend such criticism due to the requirement for cost-recovery its status as a Trading Fund demands. At the International Cartographic Conference in Santiago, Chile during November 2009 we witnessed a dramatic and unexpected shift in the status of Great Britain’s national mapping agency. An announcement made by Prime Minister Gordon Brown the day before the planned keynote address by Vanessa Lawrence CB, Chief Executive Officer and Director General of Ordnance Survey, changed the mapping landscape and has significant ramifications. This article chronicles the events in Santiago and explores some of the re...
TL;DR: A new method is developed based on slope information computed at DEM points determining accurate diagonals in the subdivision process, which is beneficial not only through the skeleton lines of a terrain but also all over the DEM.
Abstract: When the source data for the digital elevation model (DEM) are not known and any additional information or features such as skeleton lines of terrain is not available, a triangular regular network (TRN) is constructed with simple subdivision using one or two diagonals uniformly. Such a model gives inaccurate directions for interpolation because of the inaccurate diagonals used in triangulation and thereby, results in inaccurate contours representing artificial terrain features. In this study, a new method is developed based on slope information computed at DEM points determining accurate diagonals in the subdivision process, which is beneficial not only through the skeleton lines of a terrain but also all over the DEM. Consequently, it is shown that the proposed method is able to build a high fidelity TRN from a DEM without any additional information or features.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the spatial regime continuation and identified the relation to what is considered to be a small residential unit around a central church (Protatos) within the limits of the Athos peninsula.
Abstract: The peninsula of Mount Athos is the largest monastic gathering of Modern Orthodoxy in the world, operating continually under the same regime since 883 AD Focusing on Mount Athos, this paper attempts to examine the spatial regime continuation and identify the relation to what is considered to be a small residential unit around a central church (Protatos) within the limits of the Athos peninsula The paper investigates the delimitation of the area, mapping and recording the relevant changes cartographically At the same time, the paper creates a cadastral plan of the present regime, recording real estate owners in a cadastral table Finally, the paper focuses on the significance of the findings to the historical geography of Athos, as well as the emergence of a new ‘area’, added to the twenty monasteries of the peninsula after 1450