JPH10283463A - Map management device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the efficiency to manage map data by electronically managing a map without deteriorating the precision of an original map. SOLUTION: Image data that is read by a scanner 1 is once stored in an image data file 2. A character recognition functioning part 13 segments a definition position (range) of the image data in the file 2 according to data in a recognition position definition file 3, performs character recognition processing of the segmented range and extracts contradiction scale information and position information. And it stores this character recognition result in a position information file 4. A map position mesh definition functioning part 14 defines physical relationship of a map A in a contraction scale unit and registers it in a map position mesh file 5. A parameter that corresponds to the contraction scale factor is arranged in a mesh-shape storing means which is preliminarily created in the file 5, and also the image data itself of the map is registered on a map managing file 7 that corresponds to the contraction scale factor as it is.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a map management device for electronically managing a paper map.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a map of a limited area such as Japan recorded on a CD-ROM or the like in the form of a database has been commercialized. They are not assembled and made into a database.

In order to electronically manage a map as a database, it is necessary to record and save all data at a predetermined scale, and to set and read out the scale or enlargement when outputting the data. Is being done. For this reason, such a management method is used for managing certain limited map data.

[0004] In recent years, there has been a demand that a plurality of maps (paper surfaces) having different scales be integrated into one map and managed.

In this case, the individual maps are copied by a copying machine so as to be adjusted to the same scale, and then connected to each other and read and managed by a scanner.

In this case, since the reading range of the scanner is limited by hardware, it is necessary to reduce the size of the drawing to the same scale again to a copying machine again to a size readable by the scanner.

[0007]

However, in this case, there are problems that the accuracy of the map is reduced due to the multiple magnification operations, and that the drawings to be managed have the same scale.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. In managing a paper map electronically, a map which can be efficiently managed without deteriorating the accuracy of each map. It is intended to provide a management device.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a map management apparatus for reading a map on a sheet of paper as image data, the image data read by the reading means. A map information obtaining means for obtaining position information and scale information of the map in the overall map, a mesh storage means in which a storage area is previously formed in a mesh shape for arranging a plurality of maps, and the map information obtaining Position information determining means for determining a corresponding mesh position in the mesh storage means based on the position information and the scale information of the map obtained by the means, and storing a parameter corresponding to the scale factor in the mesh position; Registering the image data corresponding to the parameters stored by the position information determining means into a file for storing map data. It is characterized by comprising a storage location registration means for.

[0010] The map management device according to the second aspect is the first aspect.
In the map management device described above, display means for displaying map data registered in the file for storing map data, map data designated on display of a map on a screen of the display means, and the map data The apparatus further comprises a map overlap management means for reading out other map data whose surroundings are adjacent to the data.

That is, according to the present invention, when image data of a paper map is taken in by a scanner, the scale, the position of the map, and the like described in the map are automatically recognized as characters.
After judging the positional relationship of the map, the parameters corresponding to the scale are arranged in the mesh storage means in which the map is defined in advance, and the image data of the map itself is stored in the corresponding file without changing the scale. By managing, the management of map data can be made more efficient.

Further, in order to electronically manage the map without deteriorating the accuracy of the original map, a small scale map is preferentially input to a scanner serving as a reading means, and a small scale map is input. By supplementing the missing parts with a large-scale map, the map can be managed electronically without reducing the accuracy of the original map.

Further, by storing and managing parameters corresponding to the scale of the map in the mesh storage means, the management of the map can be facilitated.

As a result, in managing paper maps electronically, it is possible to efficiently manage individual maps without deteriorating the accuracy.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a map management device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference symbol A is a map. A scanner 1 reads the map A. Reference numeral 11 denotes a scanner input function unit for storing image data of the map A read by the scanner 1 in the image file 2. Reference numeral 12 denotes a recognition position definition function unit that defines where in the image file 2 the map position and the scale factor are described and stores the information in the recognition position definition file 3. Reference numeral 13 denotes a character recognition function unit as map information acquisition means for recognizing characters of the position information and scale information described in the recognition position and storing the characters in the position information file 4. A map position mesh definition function unit 14 defines a map position mesh and stores it in the map position mesh file 5. A position information determining function unit 15 determines the position of the map based on the map position mesh and the information on the map position and stores the determined position in the map position determination file 6. 16
Is a storage location registration function unit for registering image data in an empty file (storage location) of the map storage file 7 based on the location information of the map location determination file 6. Reference numeral 17 denotes a map overlap management function unit that manages, using the map overlap file 8, map overlaps that occur when a plurality of scaled maps are projected on the screen of the display unit 9. The display unit 9 is, for example, a monitor or a liquid crystal display (LCD).

The operation of the map management device will be described below.

In the case of this map management apparatus, first, the image data read by the scanner 1 is temporarily stored in the image data file 2.

Then, the image data is read from the image data file 2 by the recognition position definition function unit 12 and displayed on the display unit 4.

Here, the recognition position definition function section 12 refers to the recognition position definition file 3 and checks whether or not the recognition position of this map is defined. If the recognition position is not defined, where in the image data the map position and the scale of the map are described is defined, and the definition contents are registered (recorded) in the recognition position definition file 3.

This definition work is not performed for the image data of the image data file 2, that is, for each map, but is performed once for each map type.
The position where the position information of the map is described is almost fixed in the case of a commercially available map, so if this work is performed for one map, the definition content is hardly modified. . Therefore, if there is no definition instruction from the user after the second time, this recognition position definition work (processing)
Is gone.

Subsequently, the character recognition function unit 13 cuts out the definition position (range) of the image data of the image file 2 in accordance with the data of the recognition position definition file 3, performs character recognition processing on the cut-out range, and outputs the scale information and the scale information. Extract location information. Then, this character recognition result is stored in the position information file 4.

The map position mesh definition function unit 14
Defines the positional relationship of the map A in units of scale and registers it in the map position mesh file 5.

Subsequently, the position information determining function unit 15 executes the character recognition result (scale information and position information) of the position information file 4.
The map position is determined based on the definition information (the positional relationship of the map A) registered in the map position mesh file 5 and the determination result is written in the position information determination file 6. Thereby, the positional relationship of the map can be determined.

The storage location of the image data, that is, the map management file 7 is determined based on the map position information, and the storage location registration function unit 16 registers the image data in the corresponding map management file 7. At this time, the storage location registration function unit 16 registers the registered scale information of the map A in the map overlap management file 8. By describing which scale is the smallest in the mesh unit adjusted to the smallest scale in the map overlap management file 8, when displaying the input image data of the map A on the display unit 9, You can easily find and display the smallest scale map. The input state can be confirmed by using the map overlap management file 8.

A specific example in the case where a map is managed by the map management device will be described below.

In this specific example, the scales are 1/500, 1/2500,
Assuming that three / 1/5000 maps are managed by the map management device, a case where a new map having a scale of 1/2500 is newly input will be described.

FIG. 2 shows a map A to be newly inputted.
As shown in, information on the regular map itself (houses, roads,
Track, etc.), a legend, position information indicating the position of the map A in the whole, a scale indicating a scale factor of the map A, and the like.

In the example of the map A, the map position is described at the center of the map A, and the scale of the map A is described at the upper left.

In this case, first, the position where the position information of the map A and the scale ratio of the map A are described is defined by the recognized position definition function unit 12. Thereafter, the character recognizing unit 13 performs character recognition processing with reference to the definition contents to obtain "29-3" as position information and "1/2500" as scale information in the map management device.

As shown in FIG. 3, a map position mesh (mesh storage means) in the national coordinate system defined by the Geographical Survey Institute is created in the map position mesh file 4 in advance. Because the map is created based on the map, the maps overlap. In addition, the map is provided with a regular number in a unit of map creation. In this example, a map with a scale of 1/2500 is two-dimensional (x, y coordinate system).
For example, a rule for assigning a number such as “29-3” is set. If there are irregular numbers, the numbers are defined by inputting numbers corresponding to the positions of the map one by one.

The position information determination function unit 15 divides the map of “29-3” of 1/2500 into the map position mesh of 1/2500 based on the definition contents and the definition contents defined in advance by the map position mesh definition function unit 14. Is determined to be the third position from the left and the second position from the bottom, and the image data read by the scanner 1 is stored in the map storage file 7 for storing the map 29-3 at the reduced scale.

At this time, it is registered in the map overlap management file 8 that the map A whose scale factor is 1/2500 has been input.

As shown in FIG. 4, the registered contents are as follows:
Each map data is “1” when a map of / 500 is inserted, “2” when a map of 1/2500 is inserted, and “3” when a map of 1/5000 is inserted. Is managed by a parameter corresponding to the scale.

Then, the newly input map A is displayed on the display unit 9.
, The map overlap management function unit 17 checks the map overlap information described in the management file 8, and if any map data is displayed together with the map A in the screen area of the display unit 9. It is determined whether or not it is good, and it is displayed adjacent to the map A.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when a map location is displayed on the screen in which the upper left, lower left, and lower right are scaled at 1/2500, and only the upper right is scaled at 1/500, "1" is displayed at the upper right. Because it is included, it is displayed at a scale of 1/500, and other maps are displayed at a scale of 1/2500. Further, by using the map overlap management file 8, it is possible to confirm the input state of how far the map has been input, and to check the double registration when trying to register in the already input area.

As described above, according to the map management apparatus of this embodiment, the manual processing and management of the map, which have been conventionally performed manually, can be automated, and the map can be converted into a file using image data and parameters corresponding to the scale. By managing, it is possible to manage each map at the same scale as when it was read by the scanner 1, and maintain the accuracy of the map. In addition, a new map can be additionally input. Further, since the map is input by the scanner, it is possible to reduce the number of man-hours for inputting and managing the map, as well as to reduce operation errors at that time.

As a result, map management can be made more efficient.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, when image data of a paper map is captured, the scale, the position of the map, and the like described on the map are automatically recognized as characters, and the map is displayed. After determining the positional relationship of the map, the parameters corresponding to the scale are arranged in a mesh-shaped storage unit in which the map is defined in advance, and the image data of the map itself is managed in the corresponding file without changing the scale. So
The management of map data can be made more efficient.

Also, preferentially input a small scale map,
By compensating for the missing parts of the small-scale map with the large-scale map, the map can be electronically managed without reducing the accuracy of the original map.

Further, the management of the map can be facilitated by storing and managing the parameters corresponding to the scale of the map in the mesh storage means.

As a result, in managing the paper map electronically, it is possible to efficiently manage the individual maps without deteriorating the accuracy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a map management device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a general map.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a map position mesh.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a position of a map managed in units of scale.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a position of a map displayed on a display screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... scanner, 2 ... image file, 3 ... recognition position definition file, 4 ... position information file, 5 ... map position mesh file, 6 ... map position determination file, 7 ... map storage file, 8 ... map overlap file, 9 ... Display unit, 1
1 scanner input function unit 12 recognition position definition function unit
13: Character recognition function unit, 14: Map position mesh definition function unit, 15: Position information determination function unit, 16: Storage location registration function unit, 17: Map overlap management function unit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A reading means for reading a map on a sheet of paper as image data, and from image data read by the reading means,
Map information acquiring means for acquiring position information and reduced scale information of the map in the entire map; mesh storage means in which a storage area is previously formed in a mesh shape for arranging a plurality of maps; and Position information determining means for determining a corresponding mesh position of the mesh storage means based on the acquired position information and scale information of the map, and storing a parameter corresponding to the scale magnification in the mesh position; A map management device comprising: storage location registration means for registering image data corresponding to parameters stored by a position information determination means in a map data storage file. 2. The map management device according to claim 1, wherein: a display unit for displaying map data registered in the map data storage file; and a map displayed on a screen of the display unit. A map management apparatus, further comprising: a map overlap management unit that reads out the designated map data and other map data that is adjacent to the map data.