Towards developing an integrated quality map production environment in commercial cartography

Abstract

This paper deals with a technological concept of an integrated visualisation (VIS) and geoinformation (GIS) software environment for the database-based construction of quality maps. It discusses various approaches of partial implementation in commercial map production. The work presented addresses a current research problem, the combination of VIS-based map production with GIS data analysis in one software environment. In this concept VIS and GIS production resources are linked with an underlying geodatabase (GDB). The modular, scalable concept has been developed by commercial and academic partners in the framework of a R&D technology and knowledge transfer project. The VIS-GIS concept has been partly implemented with commercial and open-source software components. One example of the operational implementation in a commercial production environment is the web-based "geodressing" service. Geodressing produces standard map graphics in a largely automated, cost-effective way for rapid delivery to a growing customer base. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.