A Semi-Automatic Spatial Feature Extraction Tool for Minimising Errors in GIS Data Capture

Saviour Mantey

Abstract


In GIS projects, data capture and maintenance are both capital and labour intensive. Over the past few years, vector data for GIS analysis have been extracted by hours of tedious and manual digitising. This method of digitising is subjective and prone to human errors. The credibility of a GIS analysis is strongly influenced by the quality of data used. The objective of this study was therefore to minimise the errors in GIS vector data capture from raster models. This was achieved by developing a semi-automatic spatial feature extraction tool. The tool is capable of extracting spatial features from orthophotos, scanned maps and high resolution satellite images. The procedures employed include; image classification, edge detection and segmentation of images as well as extraction of spatial features from raster images. Finally, the extracted features were converted to vector or GIS compatible formats such as ESRI shapefiles and other CAD formats. The result is an application capable of creating a ready-to-use vector maps by extracting spatial features from raster models within the shortest possible time. This tool is also useful for map revision and converting hard-copy maps to digital formats. 

 


Keywords


Raster Data, Vector Data, Semi-Automatic Spatial Feature, ESRI Shapefiles

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References


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