JP2007249320A - Map data creating device, map data creation method, map data check program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map data creating device capable of performing efficient matching check, when checking the matching of map data. <P>SOLUTION: The map data creating device is provided with a raster data creating means and a vector data conversion means. The raster data creating means is operated by an operator, and the raster data are divided into meshes and are converted into vector data for every object on a map, and attribute information is added. Also, an original map includes a white part as a region where map information does not exist, and the vector converting means converts the white part into vector data, and adds attribute information. Thus, attribute information can be added to the white part on the map, and matching check can be carried out efficiently. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a map data creation apparatus suitable for checking the consistency of map data.

  Currently, map data used in navigation devices mounted on vehicles is represented by vector data. In vector data, things such as city blocks and buildings on the map (hereinafter simply referred to as “objects”) are represented by vectors with positions, lengths, and directions, and attribute information is added to each object. Has been.

  Such map data is created based on a city plan issued by each municipality. Specifically, first, raster data indicated by a collection of pixels such as bitmap data is created by scanning a city plan. Next, raster data is divided into meshes, and by tracing objects such as buildings, city blocks, and main roads on the city plan for each mesh, map data expressing the objects as vector data is created.

  However, some of the above-mentioned city planning drawings include a portion that is not completed because it is not a target for creation, that is, a so-called white portion. Therefore, when an error is detected when checking the consistency between adjacent meshes in map data, it is possible to distinguish whether an error occurs due to the presence of white parts or an error occurs due to forgetting to trace. It was difficult to attach, and it was necessary to check the raster data each time.

  In Patent Document 1 below, when converting raster data into vector data, a method is described in which only the object is converted into vector data by setting a flag only on the object to be converted.

JP-A-6-243214

  Examples of problems to be solved by the present invention include the above. An object of the present invention is to provide a map data creation device capable of performing an efficient consistency check when checking the consistency of map data.

  In the map data creating apparatus, the raster data creating means for creating raster data by scanning an original map and an operator operate the map data creating device to partition the raster data into meshes, and the map Vector data conversion means for converting each vector object into vector data and adding attribute information, and the manuscript map includes a white portion which is an area where no map information exists, and the vector data conversion means includes: The white portion is also converted into vector data and attribute information is added.

  In one aspect of the present invention, a map data creation device is operated by an operator, raster data creation means for creating raster data by scanning a manuscript map, and the raster data is partitioned into meshes on the map. Vector data conversion means for converting the object data into vector data and adding attribute information, and the manuscript map includes a white portion which is an area where no map information exists, and the vector data conversion means The white part is also converted into vector data and attribute information is added.

  The map data creation device includes raster data creation means and vector data conversion means. The raster data creating means is operated by an operator, partitions the raster data into meshes, converts the objects on the map into vector data, and adds attribute information. Further, the original map includes a white portion which is an area where no map information exists, and the vector data conversion means converts the white portion into vector data and adds attribute information. An object here is a component on a map such as a building, a block, or a main road. The white portion on the map is an area that is incomplete because it is not a creation target and does not have map information. Specifically, the objects and white portions on the map are converted into vector data by being traced by the operator. Further, attribute information such as the shape of the object and the white part converted into vector data and the way of display on the map data is added. In this way, by adding attribute information to the white portion on the map, when checking the consistency between adjacent meshes of the map data, an error occurs due to the presence of the white portion, or the object's It becomes easy to distinguish whether an error occurs due to forgetting to trace, and the consistency check can be performed efficiently.

  In one aspect of the above map data creation device, the attribute information added to the white portion includes attribute information of a color when displaying vector data. By doing in this way, the operator can discriminate | determine the said white part at a glance on the map data after the object is converted into vector data.

  Another aspect of the map data creating apparatus includes a consistency check unit that automatically checks the consistency between adjacent meshes, and the consistency check unit is added to the white portion. By acquiring the attribute information, a white portion is determined. As described above, even when the check is automatically performed, it is possible to determine the portion that is a white portion by acquiring the attribute information added to the white portion.

  In another aspect of the present invention, a map data creation method includes: a raster data creation step of creating raster data by scanning an original map; the raster data is partitioned into meshes; and a vector is generated for each object on the map. A vector data conversion step of converting the data into attribute data and adding the attribute information, wherein the manuscript map includes a white portion that is an area where no map information exists, and the vector data conversion step includes the white portion as vector data. Is converted to and attribute information is added. This also makes it possible to efficiently check consistency when checking the consistency between adjacent meshes of map data.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program that is executed by a computer and checks the consistency of map data partitioned for each mesh, and the map data is created for each object on the map and includes attribute information. A plurality of vector data, the vector data including vector data corresponding to incomplete part objects corresponding to areas where no map information exists, and objects existing in mutually adjacent meshes Means for determining whether or not the object is continuous; means for determining whether or not one of the objects is an incomplete part object when the object is not continuous; Map data consistency is correct when one of the objects is an incomplete object It means for determining, as to function the computer. Also by this, by acquiring the attribute information added to the white portion, it is possible to determine the portion that is a white portion.

  In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the map data prepared for each object on the map and having the vector data having the attribute information indicating the corresponding object corresponds to the incomplete part object corresponding to the area where the map information does not exist. The vector data is set with an attribute of an incomplete part indicating that map information does not exist.

[Map data creation device]
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a map data creation device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The map data creation device 100 is, for example, a personal computer, and includes a system bus 2, a CPU 4, a memory 6, a keyboard 22, a coordinate pointing device 24, a scanner 26, a display 28, a printer 30, and a database 32. Consists of. The CPU 4 and the memory 6 are connected to the system bus 2, and an input device such as a keyboard 22, a coordinate indicating device 24 such as a mouse, a scanner 26, an output device such as a display 28 and a printer 30, and a database 32 are connected via an interface (not shown). Are connected to the system bus 2 respectively.

  The CPU 4 controls the entire map data creation device 100 and controls input / output devices. Further, the CPU 4 reads a document map, creates raster data, converts raster data into vector data, and outputs map data in accordance with a processing flow of a program stored in the memory 6. These processes will be described in detail later. Therefore, the CPU 4 functions as raster data creation means and vector data conversion means in the present invention.

  The operator sets a manuscript map on the scanner 26, for example, a map such as a city plan issued by a municipality. The scanner 26 is controlled by the CPU 4 to read an original map, binarize it, and convert it into raster data corresponding to the original map. Raster data has a data format in which a document map is represented by a collection of pixels (pixels) and has a data structure similar to that of image data represented by general bitmap data or the like.

  Next, the operator partitions the map converted into raster data into a plurality of meshes defined in a grid pattern. As described above, since the city plan is created independently by the municipality or the like, there is an overlapping area between a plurality of city plan diagrams. Therefore, it is necessary to divide into meshes and extract only map information necessary for each mesh from each city plan and combine them. An identification number is added to the inside of each mesh. In this way, after converting from raster data to vector data, meshes can be integrated into one map data.

  The raster data divided into meshes is converted into vector data for each mesh. Vector data is a data format defined by position, length, and direction vectors such as lines and surfaces. Specifically, the operator traces things such as blocks and buildings on the map converted to raster data (hereinafter such things are referred to as “objects”) or uses a pattern recognition program. To convert the object into vector data. Information on the position, length, and direction of the object thus converted into vector data is stored in the database 32. Furthermore, in the vector data, attribute information can be added to the lines and surfaces defined in this way.

  FIG. 2A shows map data expressed by raster data in one mesh, and FIG. 2B shows map data after the object of FIG. 2A is converted into vector data. ing. When tracing an object such as a block or a building on the map, the operator defines the position, length, and direction of each object, and determines the attributes of each object.

  2A and 2B, a building 51, a block 52, a main road 53, a street 54, and an incomplete part 55 are shown as examples of objects. 2 (a) and 2 (b), it is shown that a building such as a building exists in the portion indicated as the building 51. A portion shown as a block 52 indicates a region or a district. A portion indicated as the main road 53 indicates a main main road having a certain width or more. The portion shown as the street 54 shows a relatively small road other than that shown as the main road. Since the incomplete part 55 is excluded from the creation target on the original manuscript map, it indicates an area where map information does not exist, that is, a so-called white part.

  3A to 3D show the attribute data of the building 51, the block 52, the main road 53, and the incomplete part 55 as a table. In the table of FIG. 3, “subject”, “space”, and “display” attributes are shown as attribute types.

  The “subject” attribute indicates the type of each object, and is indicated as, for example, a building, a block, a main road, or the like.

  The attribute of “space” indicates the shape of each object. Below each table, the shape of each object is shown. The shape of this object is defined by the position, length, and direction, that is, the position indicated by a black dot, and the line segment connecting them. Based on the shape of the object, attributes of “space” are defined as, for example, a point (point), a line (line), and a polygon (polygon). A point is an attribute of an object that can be represented only by a point, that is, a position indicated by one point. For example, a map symbol of a hospital or school corresponds to this. A line is an attribute of an object that can be indicated by a line. For example, a road or a river corresponds to this. A polygon is an attribute of an object that can be represented by a polygon. For example, this is a building or a block.

  The “display” attribute indicates how the object looks when the operator views the map data after converting the object into vector data. The operator determines a “display” attribute for each object type. For example, in this embodiment, the building is shown in yellow, the block is brown, the main road is green, and the incomplete part is red. By doing so, the operator can determine at a glance what kind of object is located by the displayed color when viewing the map data after converting the object into vector data. .

  Look at the table of the building 51 in FIG. Since the type of this object is a building, the attribute of “theme” is “building”. As can be seen from FIGS. 2A and 2B, the building 51 has a shape as shown below the table of the building 51, that is, a polygon (polygon). Therefore, the attribute of “space” is “polygon”. The “display” attribute is “yellow” because the object type is a building. In this way, the building 51 is displayed in yellow on the map data after the object is converted into vector data.

  Look at the table of the block 52 in FIG. Since the type of this object is a block, the attribute of “theme” is “block”. As can be seen from FIGS. 2A and 2B, the block 52 also has a shape as shown below the block 52, that is, a polygon (polygon). Therefore, the attribute of “space” is “polygon”. The attribute of “display” is “brown” because the type of the object is a block. By doing so, the block 52 is displayed in brown on the map data after the object is converted into vector data.

  Look at the table of the main road 53 in FIG. Since the type of this object is a highway, the attribute of “theme” is “highway”. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the main road 53 represents a road, and can basically be represented by a line of two lines. Therefore, it can be seen that the shape is as shown below the main road 53, that is, a line. Therefore, the attribute of “space” is “line”. The attribute of “display” is “green” because the object type is a trunk road. By doing so, the main road 53 is displayed in green on the map data after the object is converted into vector data.

  Look at the table of the incomplete part 55 in FIG. Since the type of this object is an incomplete part, the attribute of the “subject” is “incomplete part”. As can be seen from FIGS. 2A and 2B, the incomplete portion 55 has a shape as shown below the table of the incomplete portion 55, that is, a polygon (polygon). Therefore, the attribute of “space” is “polygon”. The attribute “display” is “red” because the type of the object is incomplete. In this way, the incomplete part 55 is displayed in red on the map data after the object is converted into vector data.

  Here, on the map data after the object is converted into vector data, a position where no object such as a building, a block, a main road, or an incomplete part is present is defined as a “street”. That is, the “street” like the street 54 does not have an attribute like the above-described object. Streets indicate roads that are smaller than main roads, but the number of them is enormous, and if each is given an attribute, the amount of map data after converting objects to vector data will be enormous. . Therefore, in this embodiment, the position where the object does not exist is defined as “street”, and the street is displayed with a background color such as white on the map data after the object is converted into vector data. Needless to say, such “street” may have attribute information.

  In the conventional map data after the object is converted into vector data, the attribute is not defined even for the incomplete part, so on the map data, for example, the part that is white in the background color is It was difficult to determine whether it was a street or an imperfect part. In this case, the operator has checked the raster data step by step to determine whether the white portion on the map data after converting the object into vector data is a street or an incomplete portion. . In the map data after converting the object into vector data according to the present embodiment, the attribute of the space is defined as a polygon even for the incomplete part, and further, the display attribute such as red is also defined. When the map data is viewed, the street and the incomplete part can be clearly distinguished. In addition, by defining the attribute of the incomplete part in this way, it is possible to determine the incomplete part even when the consistency check between adjacent meshes is mechanically performed by a program or the like. .

[Map data creation process]
Next, map data creation processing in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of map data creation processing according to the present embodiment. The flowchart of this map data creation process shows the process by the operator.

  First, the operator creates raster data by causing the scanner 26 to read the original map (step S11), and divides the map converted into the raster data into a plurality of meshes defined in a lattice shape (step S12). .

  The operator converts the raster data into vector data using the method described above (step S13). At this time, the attribute of each object including the incomplete part is defined. Information on the position and length of each object including an incomplete part converted into vector data, and attribute information are stored in the database 32.

  Next, the operator performs a data check process (step S14). This data check process will be described in detail. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the data check process in step S14.

  In the data check process, first, the operator visually checks the vector data. Specifically, it is checked whether or not each object is matched between adjacent meshes on the map data after the object is converted into vector data (step S21).

  6A to 6C show an example of a schematic diagram of each object between two meshes M1 and M2 adjacent to each other. 6A to 6C, the meshes M1 and M2 are adjacent to each other with the line segments L1 and L2 as boundaries. Here, as an example, it is checked whether the objects of the main road 53 are consistent. As shown in FIG. 6A, it is assumed that the main road 53 exists across the meshes M1 and M2. At this time, the operator determines whether the main road 53 in the mesh M1 and the main road 53 in the mesh M2 are continuous at the boundary between the mesh M1 and the mesh M2, that is, in FIG. 6A, the main road in the mesh M1. It is checked whether the coordinates P1 and P2 of the boundary with the mesh M2 of 53 and the coordinates P3 and P4 of the boundary with the mesh M1 of the main road 53 in the mesh M2 match each other.

  The operator matches the coordinates of the boundary between the mesh M2 of the main road 53 in the mesh M1 and the coordinates of the boundary between the mesh M1 of the main road 53 in the mesh M2 and the object of the main road 53 is consistent. If it is determined that there is no error (step S22: No).

  Here, if the operator determines that the object of the main road 53 is not aligned (step S22: Yes), whether or not the object of the main road 53 is in contact with the object of the incomplete portion 55. Determine. For example, as indicated by a broken line 63 in FIG. 6B, the operator has forgotten to trace although the object of the main road 53 originally exists in the mesh M2, or in FIG. As shown, since it is not a creation target on the original document map, it is determined whether or not it is an incomplete part 55 on the mesh M2 (step S23). In the present embodiment, the incomplete portion 55 is displayed in red on the map data after the object is converted into vector data, so that the operator can easily determine it visually.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, if not in contact with the incomplete portion 55 (step S23: No), the adjacent mesh, here, the mesh M2 is corrected (step S24). For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, in the case of forgetting to trace, the operator traces the main road 53 on the mesh M2. On the other hand, if it is in contact with the incomplete part 55, the process proceeds to the next step as it is (step S23: Yes). This is because the incomplete part 55 is originally a place where no data exists on the original map.

  The above-described consistency check between meshes can be automatically performed by a program in addition to visual observation by an operator. In the data check processing according to the present embodiment, the consistency check by the program is further performed after the operator's visual consistency check.

  After finishing the processing of step S21 to step S24, for example, the operator activates a program for checking consistency stored in advance in the memory 6 in the map data creation device 100. In response to the instruction of the program, the CPU 4 performs the processes of steps S25 to S28. Therefore, the CPU 4 also functions as a consistency check unit of the present invention. Steps S25 to S28 will also be described using FIGS. 6A to 6C as examples.

  First, in each of the meshes M1 and M2, the object of the main road 53 has a position and a length as data. Therefore, the CPU 4 acquires the coordinates P1 and P2 of the boundary between the mesh M1 and the mesh M2 of the main road 53 and the coordinates P3 and P4 of the boundary between the mesh M1 of the main road 53 in the mesh M2 and whether or not they match each other. Is checked (step S25).

  The CPU 4 matches the coordinates of the boundary of the mesh M1 with the mesh M2 of the main road 53 and the coordinates of the boundary of the mesh M2 with the mesh M1 of the main road 53, so that the objects of the main road 53 are matched. If it is determined that there is no error, the data check process is terminated (No in step S26).

  When the CPU 4 determines that the objects on the main road 53 are not aligned (step S26: Yes), the CPU 4 determines whether or not the object on the main road 53 is in contact with the object of the incomplete portion 55 (step S26). S27). In the present embodiment, since the attribute information of the object of the incomplete portion 55 is defined as “incomplete portion”, the CPU 4 acquires the “subject” attribute of the object adjacent to the main road 53, for example. Thus, it can be determined whether or not it is an incomplete part.

  When the CPU 4 determines that the object on the main road 53 is not in contact with the object on the incomplete part 55 (step S27: No), the CPU 4 notifies the operator by displaying this on the display 28 or the like. After confirming the display, the operator modifies the adjacent mesh, here, the mesh M2 (step S28). On the other hand, if the CPU 4 determines that it is in contact with the incomplete part 55, it ends the data check process as it is (step S27: Yes).

  After performing the data check process described above, the process returns to the flowchart of FIG. 4 and proceeds to step S15. In step S15, the map data of each mesh stored in the database 32 is integrated and output as the map data for shipment. At this time, generally, the incomplete part is not displayed to the end user. That is, the attribute of the part that becomes the incomplete part is removed, and the incomplete part is displayed in the background color.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the map data creation device is operated by the operator and raster data creation means for creating raster data by scanning an original map, and partitions the raster data into meshes. A vector data conversion means for converting the vector data into vector data and adding attribute information for each object on the map, and the manuscript map includes a white portion which is an area where no map information exists, and the vector data conversion The means converts the white portion into vector data and adds attribute information. In this way, by adding attribute information to the white portion on the map, when checking the consistency between adjacent meshes of the map data, an error occurs due to the presence of the white portion, or the object's It becomes easy to distinguish whether an error occurs due to forgetting to trace, and the consistency check can be performed efficiently.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the map data creation apparatus which concerns on a present Example. It is a figure which shows the map data expressed by raster data and vector data. It is a chart which shows the attribute of each object. It is a flowchart of the map data creation process which concerns on a present Example. It is a flowchart of the data check process which concerns on a present Example. It is a figure which shows the map data of an adjacent mesh.

Explanation of symbols

2 ... System bus 4 ... CPU
6 ... Memory 26 ... Scanner

Claims (6)

Raster data creating means for creating raster data by scanning an original map;
Operated by an operator, partitioning the raster data into meshes, and vector data conversion means for converting attribute data to vector data for each object on the map,
The manuscript map includes a white portion which is an area where no map information exists,
The map data generating device, wherein the vector data converting means converts the white portion into vector data and adds attribute information.   The map data creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information added to the white part includes attribute information of a color when displaying vector data. Consistency check means for automatically checking the consistency between adjacent meshes,
The map data creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consistency check unit determines a portion that is a white portion by acquiring attribute information added to the white portion. A raster data creation process for creating raster data by scanning a manuscript map;
A vector data conversion step of dividing the raster data into meshes and converting the data into vector data for each object on the map and adding attribute information;
The manuscript map includes a white portion which is an area where no map information exists,
In the vector data conversion step, the white portion is also converted into vector data and attribute information is added thereto. A program that is executed by a computer and checks the consistency of map data divided for each mesh,
The map data includes a plurality of vector data created for each object on the map and having attribute information,
The vector data includes vector data corresponding to an incomplete part object corresponding to an area where no map information exists,
Means for determining whether objects existing in mutually adjacent meshes are continuous at the boundary of the mesh;
Means for determining whether one of the objects is an incomplete part object when the objects are not continuous;
A map data check program that causes the computer to function as means for determining that the consistency of map data is correct when the objects are continuous or when one of the objects is an incomplete part object. Map data having vector data prepared for each object on the map and having attribute information indicating a corresponding object,
A map including vector data corresponding to an incomplete part object corresponding to an area where no map information exists, wherein the vector data is set with an attribute of an incomplete part indicating that no map information exists. data.

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