Research and Development in the National Mapping Division, USGS Trends and Prospects (1991) / Chapter Skim
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2 Current R&D Plans in NMD
2 Current R&D Plans in NMD
Pages 8-24
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From page 8... ...
Although NMD has focused its developmental activities on product generation, plans indicate an NMD desire for fundamental research activities the spatial data models required to handle its data and a variety of data applications. However, resources directed toward these efforts are limited.
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From page 9... ...
Modernization—Product Generation: Development and engineering activities required to maintain and enhance current NMD production operations, focusing on the integration into NMD's production capabilities of proven offthe-shelf advanced digital technology to support production of standard and thematic graphic products. Standards: Establishment of standards to support technical aspects of NMD data production, data base, product generation, and product distribution operations.
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From page 10... ...
Data Applications: Activities demonstrating the analysis and application of spatial data from USGS and OMO sources. Technologies used include GIS, image processing, 3-dimensional modeling, and customized thematic map generation.
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From page 11... ...
Because these products will likely evolve to meet changing user requirements, it is vital that the technological capability of Mark-II be flexible enough to continue fulfilling those needs. Product Generation Product development encompasses both high-volume, standard hard-copy maps and thematic maps, often one of a kind.
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From page 12... ...
In addition, the effort plans to evaluate the utility of the Mark-II system, which focuses largely on high-volume products, for production of many one-of-a-kind products. The objective of the product generation effort is not to replace the entire production line but to improve specific parts of it when off-the-shelf technology can replace either aging equipment or improve the current (often manual)
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From page 13... ...
Core standards activities involve the technical instructions program, configuration management, and implementation of SDTS. Before 1981, standards were expressed principally as topographic instructions.
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From page 14... ...
As of November 1989, only 55 of the 203 identified geographic features had been considered. NMD rules development is divided between data extraction and product generation.
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From page 15... ...
The DLG data structure has been widely disseminated and is often the de facto standard for interchange between different systems. In a modern spatial data handling environment, there is a strong desire to interact directly with geographical objects that usually consist of different geographical elements.
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From page 16... ...
Most of these initiatives relate to creation of spatial data layers and the ways these data are applied to problems, particularly within other USGS divisions. An important area deals with applying spatial data handling capabilities to global change; this new initiative expands NMD's mission beyond national boundaries in response to a deified national need.
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From page 17... ...
The DLG-E data structure explicitly defines the logical organization of components and component relationships of the DLG-E model. These data structures can, in turn, be translated into file structures by rules specifying logical implementations of the data structure within a given computing system environment.
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From page 18... ...
Artificial Intelligence · Spatial data handling approaches utilizing advanced data base architectures that support AI. · Knowledge-based decision support systems.
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From page 19... ...
Most of the plans and activities involve manipulating and using digital cartographic data and remotely sensed imagery in natural resource investigations as well as developing new techniques to facilitate future digital data use.
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From page 20... ...
· Expert systems are of continual interest, and it is important for NMD to keep up with developments and to develop in-house expertise for transferring expert system research to an operational/production environment. · Awareness of research involving high-resolution spatial and temporal data is important for data handling, manipulation, and analysis.
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From page 21... ...
Plans and activities include development of custom techniques and classifications of specific categories of thematic data and their subsequent integration with base or other thematic data. Research topics of a more immediate nature deal with digital base maps, color electronic prepress preparation, line work scanning, and plotting techniques.
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From page 22... ...
Analysis Tools and Techniques · New software systems · New analytical functions · New mapping products · Socioeconomic applications New User Communities · Identification of new users · Increased exposure of NMD digital products · Innovative use of products · Expanded user support system This initiative comprises applications for GIS, image processing, 3-dimensional modeling, and customized thematic map use in analyzing and displaying spatial data. Research tasks (see Table 7)
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From page 23... ...
The long-range research objective is to develop geographic models of large spatial extent, from continental to global scale. To meet this objective, sitespecific pilot areas will be used to develop and improve measurement, mapping, monitoring, and spatial modeling procedures for land surface conditions, characteristics, and behavior that will link directly to biogeochemical cycles, ecosystem dynamics, and climate and the hydrologic system.
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From page 24... ...
Information management Will provide an on-line global land data directory, catalog, and inventory system, which includes on-line image and data browsing capabilities along with network linkages to other data centers and directories. Data set development will address the processing of raw or derived data sets to create calibrated and derivative products or enhancements to existing derivative products.
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