A Knowledge-Based Map Adaptation Approach for Mobile Map Services

Abstract

In order to be able to utilise and manage various map specifications for mobile maps, a Map Specification Knowledge Base approach is introduced and formally described. A Map Specification Knowledge Base is a set of specification rules, properties and assignments constituting the system’s knowledge about the map to be delivered to the mobile user. Such knowledge includes rules connecting context parameters with the parameters for the level of details of the map and map generalisation, and settings for the map visualisation. The method uses an object-oriented approach to carry out the multiple-inheritance of the map specification modifiers based on the importance of the rules. The implemented map service can deliver various types of maps, which match the current context parameters and user preferences in real-time. To provide third-party mobile service developers with the possibility to easily create and modify map specifications for their specific needs, a web-based editor, called Map Specification Tool was implemented. The research described here was part of an EU- project referred to as GiMoDig (Geospatial info-mobility service by real-time data-integration and generalisation). A prototype of a cartographic map service was implemented to deliver geospatial data to mobile users in real-time, and is based on emerging standards, such as Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) and Open Geospatial Consortium’s (OGC) specifications.