Digital mapping and its utilization in Japan

Abstract

Accompained with the rapid progress of computer technology and its en- vironment, computer assisted mapping has been much developed, and some of them have already put to practical uses. The Geographical Survey Institute (GSI) has promoted several research projects or practical works concerning to computer applied mapping. In this paper, the auther will introduce the map compilation and thema- tic mappings assisted by computer technologies.2. From Basic Survey to Map Compilation The GSI has been executed the reserch project of automatic drafting and cmpilation of middle to small scale bassic maps (less than 1:50,000) by . using a computer system named" Semi-Automated Map Production System(SAMPS)" whch was introduced in 1988. Since then, we have performed to make Digital Map Symbols for middle to small scale bassic maps and program the applic- ation software for checking data, inputting attributes of geographic info- rmation, map drafting and transforming the scale of maps (Fig. 1, Fig. 2).