Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
9
GIS Infrastructure in Japan
—Developments and Algorithmic
Researches
Hiroshi Imai
University of Tokyo
Keiko Imai
Chuo University
Kazuo Inaba
Geographical Survey Institute
Koichi Kubota
Chuo University
ABSTRACT
Some activities of geographical data maintenance and standardization work in GIS
infrastructures in Japan are first reviewed. Then, from the viewpoint of geometric
and combinatorial algorithmics, applied aspects of GIS are described. Some spatial
data mining technique is mentioned first, and then the problem of inferring topological
information from digital map and the label placement problem are touched upon. As
one of topics in ITS (Intelligent Transport System), finding useful detours in car
navigation is discussed. These would illustrate some advanced aspects of GIS
infrastructure and its high-level use in Japan.
1
Introduction
Geographical Information System (GIS) has two aspects: one is to create and
maintain geographical data in digital form, and the other is to provide efficient
ways of utilizing geographical data for various purposes based on the information
technology. Concerning the former aspect, in these two decades, big efforts have
been made to construct digital geographical data as GIS infrastructure.
Traditionally, base geographical information is given as maps, available only on
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