1739 lines
68 KiB
TeX
1739 lines
68 KiB
TeX
\documentclass[a4paper]{article}
|
|
|
|
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
|
|
\usepackage[american]{babel}
|
|
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
|
|
\usepackage{fvextra}
|
|
\usepackage[autostyle,english=american]{csquotes}
|
|
\MakeOuterQuote{"}
|
|
\usepackage[
|
|
maxbibnames=99,
|
|
style=numeric,
|
|
sorting=none,
|
|
alldates=iso,
|
|
seconds=true
|
|
]{biblatex}
|
|
\addbibresource{bib.bib}
|
|
\usepackage[
|
|
pdfusetitle,
|
|
pdfkeywords={Line Generalization,Line Simplification,Wang--Mueller},
|
|
pdfborderstyle={/S/U/W 0} % /S/U/W 1 to enable reasonable decorations
|
|
]{hyperref}
|
|
\usepackage{enumitem}
|
|
\usepackage[toc,page,title]{appendix}
|
|
\usepackage{caption}
|
|
\usepackage{subcaption}
|
|
\usepackage{dcolumn}
|
|
\usepackage{gensymb}
|
|
\usepackage{units}
|
|
\usepackage{varwidth}
|
|
\usepackage{tabularx}
|
|
\usepackage{float}
|
|
\usepackage{numprint}
|
|
\usepackage{tikz}
|
|
\usetikzlibrary{shapes.geometric,arrows,positioning}
|
|
\usepackage{fancyvrb}
|
|
\usepackage{layouts}
|
|
\usepackage{minted}
|
|
%\usepackage{charter}
|
|
%\usepackage{setspace}
|
|
%\doublespacing
|
|
|
|
\input{version.inc}
|
|
\input{vars.inc}
|
|
|
|
\newcommand{\onpage}[1]{\ref{#1} on page~\pageref{#1}}
|
|
\newcommand{\titlecite}[1]{\citetitle{#1}\cite{#1}}
|
|
\newcommand{\titleciteauthor}[1]{\citetitle{#1} by \citeauthor{#1}\cite{#1}}
|
|
\newcommand{\DP}{Douglas \& Peucker}
|
|
\newcommand{\VW}{Visvalingam--Whyatt}
|
|
\newcommand{\WM}{Wang--M{\"u}ller}
|
|
\newcommand{\WnM}{Wang and M{\"u}ller}
|
|
\newcommand{\WirM}{Wang ir M{\"u}ller}
|
|
% {\WM} algoritmo realizacija kartografinei upių generalizacijai
|
|
\newcommand{\MYTITLE}{{\WM} algorithm realization for cartographic line generalization}
|
|
\newcommand{\MYTITLENOCAPS}{wang--m{\"u}ller algorithm realization for cartographic line generalization}
|
|
\newcommand{\MYAUTHOR}{Motiejus Jakštys}
|
|
\newcommand{\inputcode}[2]{\inputminted[fontsize=\small]{#1}{#2}}
|
|
\newenvironment{longlisting}{\captionsetup{type=listing}}{}
|
|
|
|
\title{\MYTITLE}
|
|
\author{\MYAUTHOR}
|
|
\date{\VCDescribe}
|
|
|
|
\begin{document}
|
|
|
|
\begin{titlepage}
|
|
\begin{center}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=0.2\textwidth]{vu.pdf} \\[4ex]
|
|
|
|
\large
|
|
\textbf{\textsc{
|
|
vilnius university \\
|
|
faculty of chemistry and geosciences \\
|
|
department of cartography and geoinformatics
|
|
}} \\[8ex]
|
|
|
|
\textbf{\MYAUTHOR} \\[8ex]
|
|
|
|
\normalsize
|
|
A Thesis Presented for the Degree of Master in Cartography \\[8ex]
|
|
|
|
\LARGE
|
|
\textbf{\textsc{\MYTITLENOCAPS}}
|
|
|
|
\vfill
|
|
|
|
\normalsize
|
|
Supervisor Dr. Andrius Balčiūnas \\[16ex]
|
|
|
|
\VCDescribe
|
|
\end{center}
|
|
\end{titlepage}
|
|
|
|
\begin{abstract}
|
|
\label{sec:abstract}
|
|
|
|
Currently available line simplification algorithms are rooted in
|
|
mathematics and geometry, and are unfit for bendy map features like rivers
|
|
and coastlines. {\WnM} observed how cartographers simplify these natural
|
|
features and created an algorithm. We implemented this algorithm and
|
|
documented it in great detail. Our implementation makes {\WM} algorithm
|
|
freely available in PostGIS, and this paper explains it.
|
|
|
|
\vfill
|
|
|
|
Šiuo metu esami linijų supaprastinimo algoritmai yra kilę iš matematikos ir
|
|
geometrijos, bet nėra tinkami lankstiems geografiniams objektams, tokiems
|
|
kaip upės ir pakrantės, atvaizduoti. {\WirM} ištyrė, kaip kartografai
|
|
atlieka upių generalizaciją, ir sukūrė algoritmą. Mes realizavome šį
|
|
algoritmą ir išsamiai jį dokumentavome. Mūsų {\WM} realizacija ir
|
|
dokumentacija yra nemokamos ir laisvai prieinamos, naudojant PostGIS
|
|
platformą.
|
|
|
|
\end{abstract}
|
|
|
|
\clearpage
|
|
|
|
\tableofcontents
|
|
|
|
\listoftables
|
|
\listoflistings
|
|
|
|
\newpage
|
|
|
|
\section{Introduction}
|
|
\label{sec:introduction}
|
|
|
|
\iffalse
|
|
NOTICE: this value should be copied to layer2img.py:TEXTWIDTH, so dimensions
|
|
of inline images are reasonable.
|
|
|
|
Textwidth in cm: {\printinunitsof{cm}\prntlen{\textwidth}}
|
|
\fi
|
|
|
|
When creating small-scale maps, often the detail of the data source is greater
|
|
than desired for the map. While many features can be removed or simplified, it
|
|
is more tricky with natural features that have many bends, like coastlines,
|
|
rivers, or forest boundaries.
|
|
|
|
To create a small-scale map from a large-scale data source, features need to be
|
|
simplified, i.e., detail should be reduced. While performing the
|
|
simplification, it is important to retain the "defining" shape of the original
|
|
feature. Otherwise, if the simplified feature looks too different from the
|
|
original, the result will look unrealistic. Simplification problem for some
|
|
objects can often be solved by non-geometric means:
|
|
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
\item Towns and cities can be filtered by the number of inhabitants.
|
|
\item Roads can be eliminated by the road length, number of lanes, or
|
|
classification of the road (local, regional, international).
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
|
|
However, things are not as simple for natural features like rivers or
|
|
coastlines. If a river is nearly straight, it should remain such after
|
|
simplification. An overly straightened river will look like a canal, and the
|
|
other way around --- too curvy would not reflect the natural shape. Conversely,
|
|
if the river originally is highly wiggly, the number of bends should be
|
|
reduced, but not removed altogether. Natural line simplification problem can be
|
|
viewed as a task of finding a delicate balance between two competing goals:
|
|
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
\item Reduce detail by removing or simplifying "less important" features.
|
|
\item Retain enough detail, so the original is still recognizable.
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
|
|
Given the discussed complexities with natural features, a fine line between
|
|
under-simplification (leaving an object as-is) and over-simplification (making a
|
|
straight line) needs to be found. Therein lies the complexity of simplification
|
|
algorithms: all have different trade-offs.
|
|
|
|
The purpose of the thesis is to implement a cartographic line generalization
|
|
algorithm on the basis of {\WM} algorithm, using open-source software. Tasks:
|
|
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
\item Evaluate existing line simplification algorithms.
|
|
\item Identify main river generalization problems, using classical line
|
|
simplification algorithms.
|
|
\item Define the method of the {\WM} technical implementation.
|
|
\item Realize {\WM} algorithm technically, explaining the geometric
|
|
transformations in detail.
|
|
\item Apply the created algorithm for different datasets and compare
|
|
the results with national datasets.
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
|
|
Scientific relevance of this work --- the simplification processes (steps)
|
|
described by the {\WM} algorithm --- are analyzed in detail, practically
|
|
implemented, and the implementation is described. That expands the knowledge of
|
|
cartographic theory about the generalization of natural objects' boundaries
|
|
after their natural defining properties.
|
|
|
|
In the original {\WM} article introducing the algorithm, the steps are not
|
|
detailed in a way that can be put into practice for specific data; the steps are
|
|
specified in this work. Practically, this work makes it possible to use open-source software to perform cartographic line generalization. The developed
|
|
specialized cartographic line simplification algorithm can be applied by
|
|
cartographers to implement automatic data generalization solutions. Given the
|
|
open-source nature of this work, the algorithm implementation can be modified
|
|
freely.
|
|
|
|
\section{Literature Review And Problematic}
|
|
\label{sec:literature-review-problematic}
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Available Algorithms}
|
|
|
|
This section reviews the classical line simplification algorithms, which,
|
|
besides being around for a long time, offer easily accessible implementations,
|
|
as well as more modern ones, which only theorize, but do not provide an
|
|
implementation.
|
|
|
|
\subsubsection{{\DP}, {\VW} and Chaikin's}
|
|
\label{sec:dp-vwchaikin}
|
|
|
|
{\DP}\cite{douglas1973algorithms} and {\VW}\cite{visvalingam1993line} are
|
|
"classical" line simplification computer graphics algorithms. They are
|
|
relatively simple to implement and require few runtime resources. Both of them
|
|
accept a single parameter based on desired scale of the map, which makes them
|
|
straightforward to adjust for different scales.
|
|
|
|
Both algorithms are available in PostGIS, a free-software GIS suite:
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
\item {\DP} via
|
|
\href{https://postgis.net/docs/ST_Simplify.html}{PostGIS \textsc{st\_simplify}}.
|
|
|
|
\item {\VW} via
|
|
\href{https://postgis.net/docs/ST_SimplifyVW.html}{PostGIS
|
|
\textsc{st\_simplifyvw}}.
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
|
|
It may be worthwhile to post-process those through Chaikin's line smoothing
|
|
algorithm\cite{chaikin1974algorithm} via
|
|
\href{https://postgis.net/docs/ST_ChaikinSmoothing.html}{PostGIS
|
|
\textsc{st\_chaikinsmoothing}}.
|
|
|
|
In generalization examples, we will use two rivers: Šalčia and Visinčia.
|
|
These rivers were chosen because they have both large and small bends, and
|
|
thus are convenient to analyze for both small- and large-scale generalization.
|
|
Figure~\onpage{fig:salvis-25} illustrates the original two rivers without any
|
|
simplification.
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-25k}
|
|
\caption{Example rivers for visual tests (1:{\numprint{25000}}).}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-25}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-2x50k}
|
|
\caption{Example scaled 1:\numprint{50000}.}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-2x50k}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\hfill
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=.2\textwidth]{salvis-250k-10x}
|
|
\caption{Example scaled 1:\numprint{250000}.}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\caption{Down-scaled original river.}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-50-250}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
Same rivers, unprocessed but in higher scales (1:\numprint{50000} and
|
|
1:\numprint{250000}), are depicted in Figure~\ref{fig:salvis-50-250}. Some
|
|
river features are so compact that a reasonably thin line depicting the river
|
|
is touching itself, creating a thicker line. We can assume that some
|
|
simplification for scale 1:\numprint{50000} and especially for
|
|
1:\numprint{250000} is worthwhile.
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-dp64-2x50k}
|
|
\caption{Using {\DP}.}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\hfill
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-vw64-2x50k}
|
|
\caption{Using {\VW}.}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\caption{Simplified using classical algorithms (1:\numprint{50000}).}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-generalized-1x50k}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
Figure~\ref{fig:salvis-generalized-1x50k} illustrates the same river bend, but
|
|
simplified using {\DP} and {\VW} algorithms. The resulting lines are jagged,
|
|
and thus the resulting line looks unlike a real river. To smoothen the jaggedness,
|
|
traditionally, Chaikin's\cite{chaikin1974algorithm} is applied after
|
|
generalization, illustrated in Figure~\ref{fig:salvis-generalized-chaikin-1x50k}.
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht!]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-dpchaikin64-2x50k}
|
|
\caption{{\DP} and Chaikin's.}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-dpchaikin64-2x50k}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\hfill
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-vwchaikin64-2x50k}
|
|
\caption{{\VW} and Chaikin's.}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-vwchaikin64-2x50k}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\caption{Simplified and smoothened river (1:\numprint{50000}).}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-generalized-chaikin-1x50k}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht!]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-overlaid-dpchaikin64-2x50k}
|
|
|
|
\caption{Original (fig.~\ref{fig:salvis-2x50k}) and simplified
|
|
(fig.~\ref{fig:salvis-dpchaikin64-2x50k}).}
|
|
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\hfill
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-overlaid-vwchaikin64-2x50k}
|
|
|
|
\caption{Original (fig.~\ref{fig:salvis-2x50k}) and simplified
|
|
(fig.~\ref{fig:salvis-vwchaikin64-2x50k}.)}
|
|
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\caption{Zoomed-in simplified and smoothened river and original.}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-overlaid-generalized-chaikin-1x50k}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[b]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{amalgamate1}
|
|
\caption{Narrow bends amalgamating into thick unintelligible blobs.}
|
|
\label{fig:pixel-amalgamation}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
The resulting simplified and smoothened example
|
|
(Figure~\onpage{fig:salvis-generalized-chaikin-1x50k}) yields a more
|
|
aesthetically pleasing result; however, it obscures natural river features.
|
|
|
|
Given the absence of rocks, the only natural features that influence the river
|
|
direction are topographic:
|
|
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
\item Relatively straight river (completely straight or with small-angled
|
|
bends over a relatively long distance) implies greater slope, more
|
|
water, and/or faster flow.
|
|
|
|
\item Bendy river, on the contrary, implies slower flow, slighter slope,
|
|
and/or less water.
|
|
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
Both {\VW} and {\DP} have a tendency to remove the small bends altogether,
|
|
removing a valuable characterization of the river.
|
|
|
|
Sometimes low-water rivers in slender slopes have many bends next to each
|
|
other. In low resolutions (either in small-DPI screens or paper, or when the
|
|
river is sufficiently zoomed out, or both), the small bends will amalgamate to
|
|
a unintelligible blob. Figure~\ref{fig:pixel-amalgamation} illustrates a
|
|
real-world example where a bendy river, normally 1 or 2 pixels wide, creates a
|
|
wide area, of which the shapes of the bend become unintelligible. In this
|
|
example, classical algorithms would remove these bends altogether. A
|
|
cartographer would retain a few of those distinctive bends, but would increase
|
|
the distance between the bends, remove some of the bends, or both.
|
|
|
|
% TODO: figues shouldn't split the sentence.
|
|
|
|
For the reasons discussed in this section, the "classical" {\DP} and {\VW} are
|
|
not well-suited for natural river generalization, and a more robust line
|
|
generalization algorithm is worthwhile to look for.
|
|
|
|
\clearpage
|
|
|
|
\subsubsection{Modern Approaches}
|
|
|
|
Due to their simplicity and ubiquity, {\DP} and {\VW} have been established as
|
|
go-to algorithms for line generalization. During recent years, alternatives
|
|
have emerged. These modern replacements fall into roughly two categories:
|
|
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
|
|
\item Cartographic knowledge was encoded to an algorithm (bottom-up
|
|
approach). One among these are \titlecite{wang1998line}, also known
|
|
as {\WM}'s algorithm.
|
|
|
|
\item Mathematical shape transformation which yields a more cartographic
|
|
result. E.g., \titlecite{jiang2003line},
|
|
\titlecite{dyken2009simultaneous}, \titlecite{mustafa2006dynamic},
|
|
\titlecite{nollenburg2008morphing}, \titlecite{devangleserrorbends}.
|
|
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
|
|
Authors of most of the aforementioned articles have implemented the
|
|
generalization algorithm, at least to generate the illustrations in the
|
|
articles. However, code is not available for evaluation with a desired dataset, much less for use as a basis for creating new maps. To the author's knowledge,
|
|
{\WM}\cite{wang1998line} is available in a commercial product, but requires a
|
|
purchase of the commercial product suite, without a way to license the
|
|
standalone algorithm.
|
|
|
|
{\WM} algorithm was created by encoding professional cartographers' knowledge
|
|
into a computer algorithm. It has a few main properties which make it
|
|
especially suitable for generalization of natural linear features:
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[h!]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=.8\textwidth]{wang125}
|
|
\caption{Figure 12.5 in \cite{wang1998line}: example of cartographic line
|
|
generalization.}
|
|
\label{fig:wang125}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
\item Small bends are not always removed, but either combined (e.g.,
|
|
3 bends into 2), exaggerated, or removed, depending on the neighboring
|
|
bends.
|
|
\item Long and gentle bends are not straightened, but kept as-is.
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
|
|
As a result of these properties, {\WM} algorithm retains the defining
|
|
properties of the natural features: high-current rivers keep their appearance
|
|
as such, instead of becoming canals; low-stream bendy rivers retain their
|
|
frequent small bends.
|
|
|
|
Figure~\ref{fig:wang125}, sub-figure labeled "proposed method" (from the
|
|
original \titlecite{wang1998line}) illustrates the {\WM} algorithm.
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Problematic with Generalization of Rivers}
|
|
|
|
This section introduces the reader to simplification and generalization, and
|
|
discusses two main problems with current-day automatic cartographic line
|
|
generalization:
|
|
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
\item Currently available line simplification algorithms were created
|
|
to simplify geometries, but do not encode cartographic knowledge.
|
|
|
|
\item Existing cartographic line generalization algorithms are not freely
|
|
accessible.
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
|
|
\subsubsection{Simplification versus Generalization}
|
|
|
|
It is important to note the distinction between simplification, line
|
|
generalization, and cartographic generalization.
|
|
|
|
Simplification reduces an object's detail in isolation, not taking the object's
|
|
natural properties or surrounding objects into account. For example, if a
|
|
river is simplified, it may have an approximate shape of the original river,
|
|
but lose some shapes that define it. For example:
|
|
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
|
|
\item Low-water rivers in slender slopes have many small bends next to each
|
|
other. A non-cartographic line simplification may remove all of them,
|
|
thus losing an important river's characteristic feature: after such
|
|
simplification, it will be hard to tell that the original river was
|
|
low-water in a slender slope.
|
|
|
|
\item Low-angle river bend river over a long distance differs significantly
|
|
from a completely straight canal. Non-cartographic line simplification
|
|
may replace that bend with a straight line, making the river more
|
|
similar to a canal than a river.
|
|
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
|
|
In other words, simplification processes the line, ignoring its geographic
|
|
features. It works well when the features are human-made (e.g., roads,
|
|
administrative boundaries, buildings). There is a number of freely available
|
|
non-cartographic line simplification algorithms, which this paper will review.
|
|
|
|
Contrary to line simplification, cartographic generalization does not focus
|
|
into a single feature class (e.g., rivers), but the whole map. For example,
|
|
line simplification may change river bends in a way that bridges (and roads to
|
|
the bridges) become misplaced. While line simplification is limited to a single
|
|
feature class, cartographic generalization is not. Fully automatic cartographic
|
|
generalization is not yet a solved problem. % <TODO: Reference needed>.
|
|
|
|
Cartographic line generalization falls in between the two: it does more than
|
|
line simplification, and less than cartographic generalization. Cartographic
|
|
line generalization deals with a single feature class, takes into account its
|
|
geographic properties, but ignores other features. This paper examines {\WM}'s
|
|
\titlecite{wang1998line}, a cartographic line generalization algorithm.
|
|
|
|
\subsubsection{Availability of Generalization Algorithms}
|
|
|
|
Lack of robust openly available generalization algorithm implementations poses
|
|
a problem for map creation with free software: there is no high-quality
|
|
simplification algorithm to create down-scaled maps, so any cartographic work,
|
|
which uses line generalization as part of its processing, will be of sub-par
|
|
quality. We believe that the availability of high-quality open-source tools is an
|
|
important foundation for future cartographic experimentation and development,
|
|
thus it benefits the cartographic society as a whole.
|
|
|
|
{\WM}'s commercial availability signals something about the value of the
|
|
algorithm: at least the authors of the commercial software suite deemed it
|
|
worthwhile to include it. However, not everyone has access to the commercial
|
|
software suite, access to funds to buy the commercial suite, or access to the
|
|
operating system required to run the commercial suite. PostGIS, in contrast, is
|
|
free itself, and runs on free platforms. Therefore, algorithm
|
|
implementations that run on PostGIS or other free platforms are useful to a
|
|
wider cartographic society than proprietary ones.
|
|
|
|
\subsubsection{Unfitness of Line Simplification Algorithms}
|
|
|
|
Section~\ref{sec:dp-vwchaikin} illustrates the current gaps with line
|
|
simplification algorithms for real rivers. To sum up, we highlight the
|
|
following cartographic problems from our examples:
|
|
|
|
\begin{description}
|
|
|
|
\item[Long bends] should remain as long bends, instead of becoming fully
|
|
straight lines.
|
|
|
|
\item[Many small bends] should not be removed. To retain a river's character,
|
|
the algorithm should retain some small bends, and, when they are too
|
|
small to be visible, they should be combined or exaggerated.
|
|
|
|
\end{description}
|
|
|
|
We are limiting the problem to cartographic line generalization. That is, full
|
|
cartographic generalization, which takes topology and other feature classes
|
|
into account, is out of scope.
|
|
|
|
Figure~\onpage{fig:wang125} illustrates {\WM} algorithm from their original
|
|
paper. Note how the long bends retain curvy, and how some small bends get
|
|
exaggerated.
|
|
|
|
\section{Methodology}
|
|
\label{sec:methodology}
|
|
|
|
The original {\WM}'s algorithm \cite{wang1998line} leaves something to be
|
|
desired for a practical implementation: it is not straightforward to implement
|
|
the algorithm from the paper alone.
|
|
|
|
Explanations in this document are meant to expand, rather than substitute, the
|
|
original description in {\WM}. Therefore, familiarity with the original paper is
|
|
assumed, and, for some sections, having the original close-by is necessary to
|
|
meaningfully follow this document.
|
|
|
|
This paper describes {\WM} in detail that is more useful for anyone who wishes
|
|
to follow the algorithm implementation more closely: each section is expanded
|
|
with additional commentary, and illustrations added for non-obvious steps. Corner
|
|
cases are discussed, too.
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Main Geometry Elements Used by Algorithm}
|
|
\label{sec:vocab}
|
|
|
|
This section defines and explains the geometry elements that are used
|
|
throughout this paper and the implementation. Assume Euclidean geometry
|
|
throughout this document, unless noted otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
\begin{description}
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{vertex}] is a point on a plane, can be expressed
|
|
by a pair of $(x,y)$ coordinates.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{line segment}] or \textsc{segment} joins two
|
|
vertices by a straight line. A segment can be expressed by two
|
|
coordinate pairs: $(x_1, y_1)$ and $(x_2, y_2)$. Line segment and
|
|
segment are used interchangeably.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{line}] or \textsc{linestring} represents a single
|
|
linear feature. For example, a river or a coastline.
|
|
|
|
Geometrically, a line is a series of connected line segments, or,
|
|
equivalently, a series of connected vertices. Each vertex connects to
|
|
two other vertices, with the exception of the vertices at either ends of the line:
|
|
these two connect to a single other vertex.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{multiline}] or \textsc{multilinestring} is a
|
|
collection of linear features. Throughout this implementation, this is
|
|
used rarely (normally, a river is a single line) but can be valid
|
|
when, for example, a river has an island.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{bend}] is a subset of a line that humans perceive
|
|
as a curve. The geometric definition is complex and is discussed in
|
|
section~\ref{sec:definition-of-a-bend}.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{baseline}] is a line between the bend's first and last
|
|
vertices.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{sum of inner angles}] is a measure of how "curved"
|
|
the bend is. Assume that first and last bend vertices are vectors. Then sum
|
|
of inner angles will be the angular difference of those two vectors.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{algorithmic complexity}] measured in \textsc{big o
|
|
notation}, is a relative measure that helps explain how
|
|
long\footnote{the upper bound, i.e., the worst case.} the
|
|
algorithm will run depending on its input. It is widely used in computing
|
|
science when discussing the efficiency of a given algorithm.
|
|
|
|
For example, given $n$ objects and time complexity of $O(log(n))$, the
|
|
time it takes to execute the algorithm is logarithmic to $n$.
|
|
Conversely, if complexity is $O(n^2)$, then the time it takes to
|
|
execute the algorithm grows quadratically with input. Importantly, if
|
|
the input size doubles, the time it takes to run the algorithm
|
|
quadruples.
|
|
|
|
\textsc{big o notation} was first suggested by
|
|
Bachmann\cite{bachmann1894analytische} and Landau\cite{landau1911} in
|
|
late \textsc{xix} century, and clarified and popularized for computing
|
|
science by Donald Knuth\cite{knuth1976big} in the 1970s.
|
|
|
|
\end{description}
|
|
|
|
\clearpage
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Algorithm Implementation Process}
|
|
\label{sec:algorithm-implementation-process}
|
|
|
|
\tikzset{
|
|
startstop/.style={trapezium,text centered,minimum height=2em,
|
|
trapezium left angle=70,trapezium right angle=110,draw=black,fill=red!20},
|
|
proc/.style={rectangle,minimum height=2em,text centered,draw=black,
|
|
fill=orange!20},
|
|
decision/.style={diamond,minimum height=2em,text centered,aspect=3,
|
|
draw=black,fill=green!20},
|
|
arrow/.style={thick,->,>=stealth},
|
|
}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[!ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\begin{tikzpicture}[node distance=1.5cm,auto]
|
|
\node (start) [startstop] {Read \textsc{linestring}};
|
|
\node (detect) [proc,below of=start] {Detect bends};
|
|
\node (inflections) [proc,below of=detect] {Fix gentle inflections};
|
|
\node (selfcrossing) [proc,below of=inflections] {Eliminate self-crossing};
|
|
\node (mutated1) [decision,below of=selfcrossing] {Mutated?};
|
|
\node (bendattrs) [proc,below of=mutated1] {Compute bend attributes};
|
|
\node (exaggeration) [proc,below of=bendattrs] {Exaggeration};
|
|
\node (mutated2) [decision,below of=exaggeration] {Mutated?};
|
|
\node (elimination) [proc,below of=mutated2] {Elimination};
|
|
\node (mutated3) [decision,below of=elimination] {Mutated?};
|
|
\node (stop) [startstop,below of=mutated3] {Stop};
|
|
|
|
\coordinate [right of=mutated1,node distance=5cm] (mutated1y) {};
|
|
\coordinate [right of=mutated2,node distance=5cm] (mutated2y) {};
|
|
\coordinate [right of=mutated3,node distance=5cm] (mutated3y) {};
|
|
|
|
\draw [arrow] (start) -- (detect);
|
|
\draw [arrow] (detect) -- (inflections);
|
|
\draw [arrow] (inflections) -- (selfcrossing);
|
|
\draw [arrow] (selfcrossing) -- (mutated1);
|
|
\draw [arrow] (mutated1) -| node [near start] {Yes} (mutated1y) |- (detect);
|
|
\draw [arrow] (mutated1) -- node[anchor=west] {No} (bendattrs);
|
|
\draw [arrow] (bendattrs) -- (exaggeration);
|
|
\draw [arrow] (exaggeration) -- (mutated2);
|
|
\draw [arrow] (mutated2) -| node [near start] {Yes} (mutated2y) |- (detect);
|
|
\draw [arrow] (mutated2) -- node[anchor=west] {No} (elimination);
|
|
\draw [arrow] (mutated3) -| node [near start] {Yes} (mutated3y) |- (detect);
|
|
\draw [arrow] (mutated3) -- node[anchor=west] {No} (stop);
|
|
\draw [arrow] (elimination) -- (mutated3);
|
|
\end{tikzpicture}
|
|
\caption{Flow chart of the implementation workflow.}
|
|
\label{fig:flow-chart}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
Figure~\ref{fig:flow-chart} visualizes the algorithm steps for each line.
|
|
\textsc{multilinestring} features are split to \textsc{linestring} features and
|
|
executed in order.
|
|
|
|
Judging from {\WM} prototype flow chart (depicted in figure 11 of the original
|
|
paper), their approach is iterative for the line: it will process the line in
|
|
sequence, doing all steps, before moving on to the next step. We will call this
|
|
approach "streaming", because it does not require to have the full line to
|
|
process it.
|
|
|
|
We have taken a different approach: process each step fully for the line,
|
|
before moving to the next step. This way provides the following advantages:
|
|
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
|
|
\item For \textsc{eliminate self-crossing} stage, when it finds a bend with
|
|
the right sum of inflection angles, it checks the whole line for
|
|
self-crossings. This is impossible with streaming because it requires
|
|
having the full line in memory. It could be optimized by, for example,
|
|
looking for a fixed number of neighboring bends (say, 10), but that
|
|
would complicate the implementation.
|
|
|
|
\item \textsc{fix gentle inflections} is iterating the same line twice from
|
|
opposite directions. That could be re-written to streaming fashion, but
|
|
it complicates the implementation, too.
|
|
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
On the other hand, comparing to the {\WM} prototype flow chart, our
|
|
implementation uses more memory (because it needs to have the full line before
|
|
processing), and some steps are unnecessarily repeated, like re-computing the
|
|
bend's attributes during repeated iterations.
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Technical Implementation}
|
|
\label{sec:technical-implementation}
|
|
|
|
Technical algorithm realization was created in \titlecite{postgis311}. PostGIS
|
|
is a PostgreSQL extension for working with spatial data.
|
|
|
|
PostgreSQL is an open-source relational database, widely used in industry and
|
|
academia. PostgreSQL can be interfaced from nearly any programming language;
|
|
therefore, solutions written in PostgreSQL (and their extensions) are usable in
|
|
many environments. On top of that, PostGIS implements a rich set of
|
|
functions\cite{postgisref} for working with geometric and geographic objects.
|
|
|
|
Due to its wide applicability and rich library of spatial functions, PostGIS is
|
|
the implementation language of the {\WM} algorithm. The implementation exposes
|
|
the entrypoint function \textsc{st\_simplifywm}, in
|
|
listing~\ref{lst:st-simplifywm}.
|
|
|
|
\begin{listing}
|
|
\begin{minted}[fontsize=\small]{sql}
|
|
create function ST_SimplifyWM(
|
|
geom geometry,
|
|
dhalfcircle float,
|
|
intersect_patience integer default 10,
|
|
dbgname text default null
|
|
) returns geometry
|
|
\end{minted}
|
|
\caption{Function \textsc{st\_simplifywm}.}
|
|
\label{lst:st-simplifywm}
|
|
\end{listing}
|
|
|
|
This function accepts the following parameters:
|
|
\begin{description}
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{geom}] is the input geometry. Either
|
|
\textsc{linestring} or \textsc{multilinestring}.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{dhalfcircle}] is the diameter of the half-circle.
|
|
Explained in section~\ref{sec:bend-scaling-and-dimensions}.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{intersect\_patience}] is an optional parameter to
|
|
exaggeration operator, explained in
|
|
section~\ref{sec:exaggeration-operator}.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{dbgname}] is an optional human-readable name of
|
|
the figure. Explained in section~\ref{sec:debugging}.
|
|
|
|
\end{description}
|
|
|
|
The function \textsc{st\_simplifywm} calls into helper functions, which detect,
|
|
transform, or remove bends. These helper functions are also defined in the
|
|
implementation and are part of the algorithm technical realization. All
|
|
supporting functions use spatial manipulation functions provided by PostGIS.
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Automated Tests}
|
|
\label{sec:automated-tests}
|
|
|
|
As part of the algorithm realization, an automated test suite has been
|
|
developed. Shapes to test each function have been hand-crafted, and expected
|
|
results have been manually calculated. The test suite executes parts of the
|
|
algorithm against a predefined set of geometries, and asserts that the output
|
|
matches the resulting hand-calculated geometries.
|
|
|
|
The full set of test geometries is visualized in Figure~\ref{fig:test-figures}.
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{test-figures}
|
|
\caption{Geometries for automated test cases.}
|
|
\label{fig:test-figures}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
Test suite can be executed with a single command and completes in about a
|
|
second. Having an easily accessible test suite boosts confidence that no
|
|
unexpected bugs have snug in while modifying the algorithm.
|
|
|
|
We will explain two instances when automated tests were very useful during
|
|
the implementation:
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
|
|
\item Created a function \textsc{wm\_exaggeration}, which exaggerates bends
|
|
following the rules. It worked well over simple geometries but, due to
|
|
a subtle bug, created a self-crossing bend in Visinčia. The offending
|
|
bend was copied to the automated test suite, which helped fix the bug.
|
|
Now the test suite contains the same bend (a hook-like bend on the
|
|
right-hand side of Figure~\ref{fig:test-figures}) and code to verify
|
|
that it was correctly exaggerated.
|
|
|
|
\item During algorithm development, automated tests run about once a
|
|
minute. They quickly find logical and syntax errors. In contrast,
|
|
running the algorithm with real rivers takes a few minutes, which
|
|
increases the feedback loop, and takes longer to fix the "simple"
|
|
errors.
|
|
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
|
|
Whenever we find and fix a bug, we aim to create an automated test case for it,
|
|
so the same bug is not re-introduced by whoever works next on the same piece of
|
|
code.
|
|
|
|
Besides testing for specific cases, an automated test suite ensures future
|
|
stability and longevity of the implementation itself: when new contributors
|
|
start changing code, they have higher assurance they have not broken
|
|
an already-working code.
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Reproducibility}
|
|
\label{sec:reproducing-the-paper}
|
|
|
|
It is widely believed that the ability to reproduce the results of a published
|
|
study is important to the scientific community. In practice, however, it is
|
|
often hard or impossible: research methodologies, as well as algorithms
|
|
themselves, are explained in prose, which, due to the nature of the non-machine
|
|
language, lends itself to inexact interpretations.
|
|
|
|
This article, besides explaining the algorithm in prose, includes the program
|
|
of the algorithm in a way that can be executed on reader's workstation. On top
|
|
of it, all the illustrations in this paper are generated using that algorithm
|
|
from a predefined list of test geometries (see
|
|
section~\ref{sec:automated-tests}).
|
|
|
|
This article and accompanying code are accessible on GitHub as of 2021-05-21
|
|
\cite{wmsql}.
|
|
|
|
Instructions how to re-generate all the visualizations are in
|
|
appendix~\ref{sec:code-regenerate}. The visualization code serves as a good
|
|
example reference for anyone willing to start using the algorithm.
|
|
|
|
\section{Algorithm Implementation}
|
|
|
|
As alluded in section~\ref{sec:introduction}, {\WM} paper skims over
|
|
certain details which are important to implement the algorithm. This section
|
|
goes through each algorithm stage, illustrating the intermediate steps and
|
|
explaining the author's desiderata for a more detailed description.
|
|
|
|
Illustrations of the following sections are extracted from the automated test
|
|
cases which were written during the algorithm implementation (as discussed in
|
|
section~\ref{sec:automated-tests}).
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Debugging}
|
|
\label{sec:debugging}
|
|
|
|
This implementation includes debugging facilities in a form of a table
|
|
\textsc{wm\_debug}. The table's schema is written in
|
|
listing~\ref{lst:wm-debug-sql}.
|
|
|
|
When debug mode is active, implementation steps will store their results, which
|
|
can be useful to manually inspect the results of intermediate actions. Besides
|
|
manual inspection, most of the figure illustrations in this article are
|
|
visualized from the \textsc{wm\_debug} table. Debugging mode can be activated
|
|
by passing a non-empty \textsc{dbgname} string to the function
|
|
\textsc{st\_simplifywm} (this function was described in
|
|
section~\ref{sec:technical-implementation}). By convention, \textsc{dbgname} is
|
|
the name of the geometry that is being simplified, e.g., \textsc{šalčia}. The
|
|
purpose of each column in \textsc{wm\_debug} is described below:
|
|
|
|
\begin{description}
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{id}] is a unique identifier for each feature.
|
|
Generated automatically by PostgreSQL. Useful when it is necessary to
|
|
copy one or more features to a separate table for unit tests, as
|
|
described in section~\ref{sec:automated-tests}.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{stage}] is the stage of the algorithm. As of
|
|
writing, there are a few:
|
|
\begin{description}
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{afigures}] at the beginning of the loop.
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{bbends}] after bends are detected.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{cinflections}] after gentle inflections
|
|
are fixed.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{dcrossings}] after self-crossings are
|
|
eliminated.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{ebendattrs}] after bend attributes are
|
|
calculated.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{gexaggeration}] after bends have been
|
|
exaggerated.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{helimination}] after bends have been
|
|
eliminated.
|
|
|
|
\end{description}
|
|
|
|
Some of these have sub-stages which are encoded by a dash and a
|
|
sub-stage name, e.g., \textsc{bbends-polygon} creates polygon
|
|
geometries after polygons have been detected; this particular example
|
|
is used to generate colored polygons in
|
|
Figure~\ref{fig:fig8-definition-of-a-bend}.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{name}] is the name of the geometry, which comes from
|
|
parameter~\textsc{dbgname}.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{gen}] is the top-level iteration number. In other
|
|
words, the number of times the execution flow passes through
|
|
\textsc{detect bends} phase as depicted in
|
|
Figure~\onpage{fig:flow-chart}.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{nbend}] is the bend's index in its \textsc{line}.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{way}] is the geometry column.
|
|
|
|
\item[\normalfont\textsc{props}] is a free-form JSON object to store
|
|
miscellaneous values. For example, \textsc{ebendattrs} phase stores a
|
|
boolean property \textsc{isolated}, which signifies whether the bend is
|
|
isolated or not (explained in section~\ref{sec:isolated-bend}).
|
|
|
|
\end{description}
|
|
|
|
When debug mode is turned off (that is, \textsc{dbgname} is left unspecified),
|
|
\textsc{wm\_debug} is empty and the algorithm runs slightly faster.
|
|
|
|
\begin{listing}[h!]
|
|
\begin{minted}[fontsize=\small]{sql}
|
|
drop table if exists wm_debug;
|
|
create table wm_debug(
|
|
id serial,
|
|
stage text not null,
|
|
name text not null,
|
|
gen bigint not null,
|
|
nbend bigint,
|
|
way geometry,
|
|
props jsonb
|
|
);
|
|
\end{minted}
|
|
\caption{\textsc{wm\_debug} table definition}
|
|
\label{lst:wm-debug-sql}
|
|
\end{listing}
|
|
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Merging Pieces of a River into One}
|
|
|
|
Example river geometries were sourced from OpenStreetMap\cite{openstreetmap}
|
|
and NŽT\cite{nzt}. Rivers in both data sources are stored in shorter line
|
|
segments, and multiple segments (usually hundreds or thousands for significant
|
|
rivers) define one full river. While it is convenient to store and edit, these
|
|
segments are not explicitly related to each other. This poses a problem for
|
|
simplification algorithms which manipulate on full linear features at a time:
|
|
full river geometries, but not their parts.
|
|
|
|
Since these rivers do not have an explicit relationship to connect them
|
|
together, they were connected using heuristics: if two line segments share a
|
|
name and are within 500 meters from each other, then they form a single river.
|
|
For all line simplification algorithms, all rivers need to be combined and
|
|
this way proved to be reasonably effective. Source code for this operation can
|
|
be found in listing~\onpage{lst:aggregate-rivers.sql}.
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Bend Scaling And Dimensions}
|
|
\label{sec:bend-scaling-and-dimensions}
|
|
|
|
{\WM} accepts a single input parameter: the diameter of a half-circle. If the
|
|
bend's adjusted size (explained in detail in section~\ref{sec:shape-of-a-bend})
|
|
is greater than the area of the half-circle, then the bend will be left
|
|
untouched. If the bend's adjusted size is smaller than the area of the provided
|
|
half-circle, the bend will be simplified: either exaggerated, combined, or
|
|
eliminated.
|
|
|
|
The extent of line simplification, as well as the half-circle's diameter,
|
|
depends on the desired target scale. Simplification should be more aggressive
|
|
for smaller target scales and less aggressive for larger scales. This section
|
|
goes through the process of finding the correct variable to {\WM} algorithm.
|
|
What is the minimal, but still eligible, figure that should be displayed on
|
|
the map?
|
|
|
|
According to \titlecite{cartoucheMinimalDimensions}, the map is typically held
|
|
at a distance of 30 cm. Recommended minimum symbol size, given viewing distance
|
|
of 45 cm (1.5 feet), is 1.5 mm, as analyzed in \titlecite{mappingunits}.
|
|
|
|
In our case, our target is line bend, rather than a symbol. Assume 1.5 mm is a
|
|
diameter of the bend. A semi-circle of 1.5 mm diameter is depicted in
|
|
Figure~\ref{fig:half-circle}. A bend of this size or larger, when adjusted to
|
|
scale, will not be simplified.
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\begin{tikzpicture}[x=1mm,y=1mm]
|
|
\draw[] (-10, 0) -- (-.75,0) arc (225:-45:.75) -- (10, 0);
|
|
\end{tikzpicture}
|
|
\caption{Smallest feature that will be not simplified (to scale).}
|
|
\label{fig:half-circle}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\begin{table}[h!]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\begin{tabular}{ c D{.}{.}{1} }
|
|
Scale & \multicolumn{1}{c}{$D(m)$} \\ \hline
|
|
1:\numprint{10000} & 15 \\
|
|
1:\numprint{15000} & 22.5 \\
|
|
1:\numprint{25000} & 37.5 \\
|
|
1:\numprint{50000} & 75 \\
|
|
1:\numprint{250000} & 220 \\
|
|
\end{tabular}
|
|
\caption{{\WM} half-circle diameter $D$ for popular scales.}
|
|
\label{table:scale-halfcirlce-diameter}
|
|
\end{table}
|
|
|
|
{\WM} algorithm does not have a notion of scale, but it does have a notion of
|
|
distance: it accepts a single parameter $D$, the half-circle's diameter.
|
|
Assuming measurement units in projected coordinate system are meters (for
|
|
example, \titlecite{epsg3857}), some popular scales are highlighted in
|
|
table~\ref{table:scale-halfcirlce-diameter}.
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Definition of a Bend}
|
|
\label{sec:definition-of-a-bend}
|
|
|
|
The original article describes a bend as follows:
|
|
|
|
\begin{displaycquote}{wang1998line}
|
|
A bend can be defined as that part of a line which contains a number of
|
|
subsequent vertices, with the inflection angles on all vertices included in
|
|
the bend being either positive or negative and the inflection of the bend's
|
|
two end vertices being in opposite signs.
|
|
\end{displaycquote}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[h!]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{fig8-definition-of-a-bend}
|
|
|
|
\caption{Similar to figure 8 in \cite{wang1998line}: detected bends are
|
|
highlighted.}
|
|
|
|
\label{fig:fig8-definition-of-a-bend}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
Here are some non-obvious characteristics that are necessary when writing code
|
|
to detect the bends:
|
|
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
\item End segments of each line should also belong to bends. That way, all
|
|
segments belong to 1 or 2 bends.
|
|
|
|
\item First and last segments of each bend (except for the two end-line
|
|
segments) are also the first vertex of the next bend.
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Gentle Inflection at the End of a Bend}
|
|
|
|
\begin{displaycquote}{wang1998line}
|
|
But if the inflection that marks the end of a bend is quite small, people
|
|
would not recognize this as the bend point of a bend
|
|
\end{displaycquote}
|
|
|
|
Figure~\ref{fig:fig5-gentle-inflection} visualizes the original paper's figure 5,
|
|
when a single vertex is moved outwards the end of the bend.
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{fig5-gentle-inflection-before}
|
|
\caption{Before applying the inflection rule.}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\hfill
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{fig5-gentle-inflection-after}
|
|
\caption{After applying the inflection rule.}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\caption{Figure 5 in \cite{wang1998line}: gentle inflections at the ends of
|
|
the bend.}
|
|
\label{fig:fig5-gentle-inflection}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[h!]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{inflection-1-gentle-inflection-before}
|
|
\caption{Before applying the inflection rule.}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\hfill
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{inflection-1-gentle-inflection-after}
|
|
\caption{After applying the inflection rule.}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\caption{Gentle inflection at the end of the bend with multiple vertices.}
|
|
\label{fig:inflection-1-gentle-inflection}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
The illustration for this section was clear but insufficient: it does not
|
|
specify how many vertices should be included when calculating the end-of-bend
|
|
inflection. The iterative approach was chosen: as long as the angle is
|
|
"right" and the baseline is becoming shorter, the algorithm should keep
|
|
re-assigning vertices to different bends. There is no upper bound
|
|
on the number of iterations.
|
|
|
|
To prove that the algorithm implementation is correct for multiple vertices,
|
|
additional example was created and illustrated in
|
|
Figure~\ref{fig:inflection-1-gentle-inflection}: the rule re-assigns two
|
|
vertices to the next bend.
|
|
|
|
Note that to find and fix the gentle bends' inflections, the algorithm should
|
|
run twice, both ways. Otherwise, if it is executed only one way, the steps will
|
|
fail to match some bends that should be adjusted. Current implementation works
|
|
as follows:
|
|
|
|
\begin{enumerate}
|
|
\item Run the algorithm from the beginning to the end.
|
|
\item \label{rev1} Reverse the line and each bend.
|
|
\item Run the algorithm again.
|
|
\item \label{rev2} Reverse the line and each bend.
|
|
\item Return result.
|
|
\end{enumerate}
|
|
|
|
Reversing the line and its bends is straightforward to implement but costly:
|
|
the two reversal steps cost additional time and memory. The algorithm could be
|
|
made more optimal with a similar version of the algorithm, but the one which
|
|
goes backwards. In this case, steps \ref{rev1} and \ref{rev2} could be spared,
|
|
that way saving memory and computation time.
|
|
|
|
The "quite small angle" was arbitrarily chosen to \smallAngle.
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Self-Line Crossing When Cutting a Bend}
|
|
|
|
When a bend's baseline crosses another bend, it is called self-crossing.
|
|
Self-crossing is undesirable for the upcoming bend manipulation operators; therefore,
|
|
should be removed. There are a few rules on when and how they should be removed
|
|
--- this section explains them in higher detail, discusses their time
|
|
complexity and applied optimizations. Figure~\ref{fig:fig6-selfcrossing} is
|
|
copied from the original article.
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{fig6-selfcrossing}
|
|
\caption{Originally figure 6: the bend's baseline (orange) is crossing a neighboring bend.}
|
|
\label{fig:fig6-selfcrossing}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{selfcrossing-1}
|
|
\caption{The bend's baseline (orange) is crossing a non-neighboring bend.}
|
|
\label{fig:selfcrossing-1-non-neighbor}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
% TODO: figure should not split the text.
|
|
|
|
Looking at the {\WM} paper alone, it may seem like self-crossing may happen
|
|
only with the neighboring bend. This would mean an efficient $O(n)$
|
|
implementation\footnote{where $n$ is the number of bends in a line. See
|
|
explanation of \textsc{algorithmic complexity} in section~\ref{sec:vocab}.}.
|
|
However, as one can see in Figure~\ref{fig:selfcrossing-1-non-neighbor}, it may
|
|
not be the case: any other bend in the line may be crossing it.
|
|
|
|
If one translates the requirements to code in a straightforward way, it would
|
|
be quite computationally expensive: naively implemented, complexity of checking
|
|
every bend with every bend is $O(n^2)$. In other words, the time it takes to
|
|
run the algorithm grows quadratically with the number of vertices.
|
|
|
|
It is possible to optimize this step and skip checking a large number of bends.
|
|
Only bends, the inner angles' sum of which is larger than $180^\circ$, can ever
|
|
self-cross. That way, only a fraction of bends need to be checked. The
|
|
worst-case complexity is still $O(n^2)$, when all bends' inner angles are
|
|
larger than $180^\circ$. Having this optimization, the algorithmic complexity
|
|
(as a result, the time it takes to execute the algorithm) drops by the
|
|
fraction of bends, the inner angles' sum of which is smaller than $180^\circ$.
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Attributes of a Single Bend}
|
|
|
|
\textsc{compactness index} is "the ratio of the area of the polygon over the
|
|
circle whose circumference length is the same as the length of the
|
|
circumference of the polygon" \cite{wang1998line}. Given a bend, its
|
|
compactness index is calculated as follows:
|
|
|
|
\begin{enumerate}
|
|
|
|
\item Construct a polygon by joining first and last vertices of the bend.
|
|
|
|
\item Calculate the area of the polygon $A_{p}$.
|
|
|
|
\item Calculate perimeter $P$ of the polygon. The same value is the
|
|
circumference of the circle: $C = P$.
|
|
|
|
\item Given the circle's circumference $C$, the circle's area $A_{c}$ is:
|
|
|
|
\[
|
|
A_c = \frac{C^2}{4\pi}
|
|
\]
|
|
|
|
\item Compactness index $c$ is the area of the polygon $A_p$ divided by the
|
|
area of the circle $A_c$:
|
|
|
|
\[
|
|
c = \frac{A_p}{A_c} =
|
|
\frac{A_p}{ \frac{C^2}{4\pi} } =
|
|
\frac{4\pi A_p}{C^2}
|
|
\]
|
|
|
|
\end{enumerate}
|
|
|
|
Once this operation is complete, each bend will have a list of properties
|
|
which will be used by other modifying operators.
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Shape of a Bend}
|
|
\label{sec:shape-of-a-bend}
|
|
|
|
This section introduces \textsc{adjusted size} $A_{adj}$ which trivially
|
|
derives from \textsc{compactness index} $c$ and "polygonized" bend's area $A_{p}$:
|
|
|
|
\[
|
|
A_{adj} = \frac{0.75 A_{p}}{c}
|
|
\]
|
|
|
|
Adjusted size is necessary later to compare bends with each other, or to decide if
|
|
the bend is within the simplification threshold.
|
|
|
|
Sometimes, when working with {\WM}, it is useful to convert between
|
|
half-circle's diameter $D$ and adjusted size $A_{adj}$. These easily derive
|
|
from circle's area formula $A = 2\pi \frac{D}{2}^2$:
|
|
|
|
\[
|
|
D = 2\sqrt{\frac{2 A_{adj}}{\pi}}
|
|
\]
|
|
|
|
In reverse, adjusted size $A_{adj}$ from half-circle's diameter:
|
|
|
|
\[
|
|
A_{adj} = \frac{\pi D^2}{8}
|
|
\]
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Isolated Bend}
|
|
\label{sec:isolated-bend}
|
|
|
|
Bend itself and its "isolation" can be described by \textsc{average curvature},
|
|
which is \textcquote{wang1998line}{geometrically defined as the ratio of
|
|
inflection over the length of a curve.}
|
|
|
|
Two conditions must be followed to claim that a bend is isolated:
|
|
|
|
\begin{enumerate}
|
|
\item \textsc{average curvature} of neighboring bends should be larger
|
|
than the "candidate" bend's curvature. The article did not offer a
|
|
value; this implementation arbitrarily chose $\isolationThreshold$.
|
|
|
|
\item Bends on both sides of the "candidate" bend should be longer than a
|
|
certain value. This implementation does not (yet) define such a
|
|
constraint and will only follow the average curvature constraint above.
|
|
|
|
\end{enumerate}
|
|
|
|
We believe unclear criteria for \textsc{isolated bend} is one of the main
|
|
causes for jagged lines in section~\ref{sec:results}, and is a suggested
|
|
further area of research in section~\ref{sec:future-suggestions}.
|
|
|
|
\subsection{The Context of a Bend: Isolated And Similar Bends}
|
|
|
|
To find out whether two bends are similar, they are compared by 3 components:
|
|
|
|
\begin{enumerate}
|
|
\item \textsc{adjusted size} $A_{adj}$.
|
|
\item \textsc{compactness index} $c$.
|
|
\item \textsc{baseline length} $l$.
|
|
\end{enumerate}
|
|
|
|
Components 1, 2 and 3 represent a point in a 3-dimensional space, and Euclidean
|
|
distance $d(p,q)$ between those is calculated to differentiate bends $p$ and
|
|
$q$:
|
|
|
|
\[
|
|
d(p,q) = \sqrt{(A_{adj(p)}-A_{adj(q)})^2 +
|
|
(c_p-c_q)^2 +
|
|
(l_p-l_q)^2}
|
|
\]
|
|
|
|
The smaller the distance $d$, the more similar the bends are.
|
|
|
|
\clearpage
|
|
\subsection{Elimination Operator}
|
|
|
|
Figure~\ref{fig:elimination-through-iterations} illustrates steps of figure 8
|
|
from the original paper. There is not much to add to the original description
|
|
beyond repeating the elimination steps in an illustrated example.
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{\textwidth}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{fig8-elimination-gen1}
|
|
\caption{Original}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{\textwidth}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{fig8-elimination-gen2}
|
|
\caption{Iteration 1}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{\textwidth}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{fig8-elimination-gen3}
|
|
\caption{Iteration 2 (result)}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\caption{Originally figure 8: the bend elimination through iterations.}
|
|
\label{fig:elimination-through-iterations}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Combination Operator}
|
|
\label{sec:combination-operator}
|
|
|
|
Combination operator was not implemented in this version.
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Exaggeration Operator}
|
|
\label{sec:exaggeration-operator}
|
|
|
|
Exaggeration operator finds bends, of which \textsc{adjusted size} is smaller
|
|
than the \textsc{diameter of the half-circle}. Once a target bend is found, it
|
|
will be exaggerated in increments until either becomes true:
|
|
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
\item \textsc{adjusted size} of the exaggerated bend is larger than the area of
|
|
the half-circle.
|
|
|
|
\item The exaggerated bend starts intersecting with a neighboring bend.
|
|
Then exaggeration aborts, and the bend remains as if it were one step
|
|
before the intersection.
|
|
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
|
|
Exaggeration operator uses a hardcoded parameter \textsc{exaggeration step} $s
|
|
\in (1,2]$. It was arbitrarily picked to {\exaggerationEnthusiasm} for this
|
|
implementation. A single exaggeration increment is done as follows:
|
|
|
|
\begin{enumerate}
|
|
\item Find a candidate bend.
|
|
\item Find the bend's baseline.
|
|
\item Find \textsc{midpoint}, the center of the bend's baseline.
|
|
|
|
\item Find \textsc{midbend}, the center of the bend. Distance from one
|
|
baseline vertex to \textsc{midbend} should be the same as from
|
|
\textsc{midbend} to the other baseline vertex.
|
|
|
|
\item Mark each bend's vertex with a number between $[1,s]$. The number is
|
|
derived with elements linearly between the start vertex and
|
|
\textsc{midbend}, with values somewhat proportional to the azimuth
|
|
between these lines:
|
|
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
\item \textsc{midbend} and the point.
|
|
\item \textsc{midpoint} and the point.
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
|
|
The other half of the bend, from \textsc{midbend} to the final vertex,
|
|
is linearly interpolated between $[s,1]$, using the same rules as for
|
|
the first half.
|
|
|
|
The first version of the algorithm used simple linear interpolation
|
|
based on the point's position in the line. The current version applies
|
|
a few coefficients, which were derived empirically, by observing the
|
|
resulting bend.
|
|
|
|
\item Each point (except the beginning and end vertices of the bend) will
|
|
be placed farther away from the baseline. The length of misplacement is
|
|
the marked value in the previous step.
|
|
|
|
\end{enumerate}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{isolated-1-exaggerated}
|
|
\caption{Example isolated exaggerated bend.}
|
|
\label{fig:isolated-1-exaggerated}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
The technical implementation of the algorithm contains two implementations of
|
|
exaggeration operator: \textsc{wm\_exaggerate\_bend} is the original one. It
|
|
uses simple linear interpolation. It is fast, but simple. It tends to leave
|
|
jagged bends. \textsc{wm\_exaggerate\_bend2} is a more computationally
|
|
expensive function, which leaves better-looking exaggerated bends.
|
|
|
|
Both functions are interchangeable and can be found in listing~\ref{lst:wm.sql}.
|
|
Figure~\ref{fig:isolated-1-exaggerated} illustrates an exaggerated bend using
|
|
\textsc{wm\_exaggerate\_bend2}.
|
|
|
|
\section{Results}
|
|
\label{sec:results}
|
|
|
|
This section visualizes the results, discusses robustness and issues of the
|
|
generalization, and suggests specific improvements.
|
|
|
|
One of our goals is to compare the generalized lines with the official
|
|
generalized dataset\cite{nzt}. Therefore, we have selected the target scales
|
|
that the official sources offer, too: 1:\numprint{50000} and
|
|
1:\numprint{250000}. The \textsc{dhalfcircle} values for the subset are as
|
|
follow:
|
|
|
|
\begin{table}[ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\begin{tabular}{ c D{.}{.}{1} }
|
|
Scale & \multicolumn{1}{c}{$D(m)$} \\ \hline
|
|
1:\numprint{50000} & 75 \\
|
|
1:\numprint{250000} & 220 \\
|
|
\end{tabular}
|
|
\end{table}
|
|
|
|
Our generalized results are viewed from the following angles:
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
\item Compare to the non-simplified originals.
|
|
\item Compare to the official datasets.
|
|
\item Compare to {\DP} and {\VW}.
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Generalization Results of Analyzed Rivers}
|
|
\label{sec:generalization-results-of-analyzed-rivers}
|
|
|
|
\subsubsection{Medium-Scale (1:\numprint{50000})}
|
|
\label{sec:analyzed-medium-scale}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[h!]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-wm75--grpk10-1x50k}
|
|
\caption{2x zoomed-in {\WM} for 1:\numprint{50000}.}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-wm75--grpk10-1x50k}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[h!]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-wm75--grpk10-1x50ktr}
|
|
\caption{Top--right part of Figure~\ref{fig:salvis-wm75--grpk10-1x50k}.}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-wm75--grpk10-1x50ktr}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[h!]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-wm75--grpk10-1x50ktl}
|
|
\caption{Left part of Figure~\ref{fig:salvis-wm75--grpk10-1x50k}.}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-wm75--grpk10-1x50ktl}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
As one can see in Figure~\ref{fig:salvis-wm75--grpk10-1x50k}, the illustrations deliver
|
|
what was promised by the algorithm, but with a few caveats. Left side of the
|
|
figure looks reasonably well simplified: long bends remain slightly curved,
|
|
small bends are removed or slightly exaggerated.
|
|
|
|
Figure's~\ref{fig:salvis-wm75--grpk10-1x50k} left part is clipped to
|
|
Figure~\ref{fig:salvis-wm75--grpk10-1x50ktl}. As one can see, some bends were well
|
|
exaggerated, and some bends were eliminated.
|
|
|
|
Top--right side (clipped in Figure~\ref{fig:salvis-wm75--grpk10-1x50ktl}), some jagged
|
|
and sharp bends appear. These will become more pronounced in even larger-scale
|
|
simplification in the next section.
|
|
|
|
To sum up, mid-scale simplification works well for some geometries, but creates
|
|
sharp edges for others.
|
|
|
|
\clearpage
|
|
|
|
\subsubsection{Large-Scale (1:\numprint{250000})}
|
|
\label{sec:analyzed-large-scale}
|
|
|
|
As visible in Figure~\ref{fig:salvis-wm220-10x}, for large-scale map, some of the
|
|
resulting bends look significantly exaggerated. Why is that?
|
|
Figure~\ref{fig:salvis-wm220-overlaid-zoom} zooms in the large-scale
|
|
simplification and overlays the original.
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=.2\textwidth]{salvis-250k-10x}
|
|
\caption{Original.}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\hfill
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=.2\textwidth]{salvis-wm220-10x}
|
|
\caption{Simplified.}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\caption{GRPK10 simplified with {\WM} for 1:\numprint{250000}.}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-wm220-10x}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=.8\textwidth]{salvis-wm-overlaid-250k-zoom}
|
|
\caption{10x zoomed-in {\WM} for 1:\numprint{250000}.}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-wm220-overlaid-zoom}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
A conglomeration of bends is visible, especially in top--right side of the
|
|
illustration. We assume this was caused by two bends significantly exaggerated,
|
|
leaving no space to exaggerate those between the two.
|
|
|
|
\subsubsection{Discussion}
|
|
|
|
For mid-size scales of 1:\numprint{50000}, the implemented algorithm works well
|
|
for certain geometries, and poorly for others. This test surfaced two areas for
|
|
future research and improvement:
|
|
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
|
|
\item Exaggeration is sometimes creating sharp edges, especially when the
|
|
exaggerated bend is quite small. When sharp edges are created,
|
|
exaggeration could interpolate more points in the bend, and exaggerate
|
|
using the interpolated points.
|
|
|
|
\item In larger scales, when bends do not have space to exaggerate, they
|
|
should be combined or eliminated instead.
|
|
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Comparison with National Spatial Datasets}
|
|
|
|
There are a few datasets used in this comparison: GRPK10, GRPK50 and
|
|
GRPK250. They are vector datasets which include rivers. They can be
|
|
downloaded for free from \cite{nzt}. Here are the meanings of the codenames:
|
|
|
|
\begin{description}
|
|
|
|
\item[GRPK10] is a dataset of highest detail. Suited for maps of scale
|
|
1:\numprint{10000}.
|
|
|
|
\item[GRPK50] is suited for maps of scale 1:\numprint{50000}.
|
|
|
|
\item[GRPK250] offers the least detail, and is suited for maps of
|
|
scale 1:\numprint{250000}.
|
|
|
|
\end{description}
|
|
|
|
During the analysis, we ran {\WM} on GRPK10 for 2 destination scales:
|
|
1:\numprint{50000} and 1:\numprint{250000}.\footnote{parameter calculation is
|
|
detailed in section~\ref{sec:bend-scaling-and-dimensions}.} This section
|
|
compares the resulting {\WM}--generalized rivers to GRPK50 and GRPK250.
|
|
|
|
\subsubsection{Medium-Scale (1:\numprint{50000})}
|
|
|
|
For our research location, the national dataset GRPK10 is almost equivalent to
|
|
GRPK50, with a few nuances. Figure~\ref{fig:salvis-wm75-grpk50-grpk10-1x50k}
|
|
illustrates all three shapes: GRPK50, {\WM}--simplified GRPK10, and the
|
|
original GRPK10.
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[h!]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-wm75-grpk50-grpk10-1x50k}
|
|
|
|
\caption{GRPK10, GRPK50 and {\WM} for 1:\numprint{50000}.}
|
|
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-wm75-grpk50-grpk10-1x50k}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[h!]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-wm75-grpk50-grpk10-1x50ktl}
|
|
\caption{Left side of Figure~\ref{fig:salvis-wm75-grpk50-grpk10-1x50k}.}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-wm75-grpk50-grpk10-1x50ktl}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[h!]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-wm75-grpk50-grpk10-1x50ktr}
|
|
\caption{Top--right side of Figure~\ref{fig:salvis-wm75-grpk50-grpk10-1x50k}.}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-wm75-grpk50-grpk10-1x50ktr}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
Although figures are almost identical,
|
|
Figure~\ref{fig:salvis-wm75-grpk50-grpk10-1x50ktr} illustrates two small bends
|
|
that have been removed in GRPK50, but have been exaggerated by our
|
|
implementation.
|
|
|
|
\clearpage
|
|
|
|
\subsubsection{Large-Scale (1:\numprint{250000})}
|
|
\label{sec:national-large-scale}
|
|
|
|
Figure~\ref{fig:salvis-wm220} illustrates the original GRPK250 and the
|
|
{\WM}--simplified version. As section~\ref{sec:analyzed-large-scale} explains,
|
|
the algorithm tries to exaggerate many bends to a great size. However, GRPK250
|
|
takes the opposite approach --- only the very basic shapes of the largest bends
|
|
are retained. Time and customers will tell, which approach is more appropriate,
|
|
after the current {\WM} implementation receives some time and attention, as
|
|
desired in section~\ref{sec:future-suggestions}.
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[h!]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-grpk250-2x}
|
|
\caption{GRPK250.}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\hfill
|
|
\begin{subfigure}[b]{.49\textwidth}
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-wm220}
|
|
\caption{{\WM}-simplified GRPK10.}
|
|
\end{subfigure}
|
|
\caption{GRPK250 and {\WM}--simplified GRPK10.}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-wm220}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Comparison with {\DP} and {\VW}}
|
|
|
|
It is time to visually compare our implementation with the classical
|
|
algorithms: {\DP}, {\VW} and Chaikin. Since we have established that more work is
|
|
needed for small-scale maps (1:\numprint{250000}), we will limit the comparison
|
|
in this section to 1:\numprint{50000}.
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[h!]
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-wm75-dp64-grpk10-1x50k}
|
|
\caption{}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-wm75-dp64-grpk10-1x50k}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[h!]
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-wm75-dpchaikin64-grpk10-1x50k}
|
|
\caption{}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-wm75-dpchaikin64-grpk10-1x50k}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\clearpage
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[h!]
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-wm75-vw64-grpk10-1x50k}
|
|
\caption{}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-wm75-vw64-grpk10-1x50k}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[h!]
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{salvis-wm75-vwchaikin64-grpk10-1x50k}
|
|
\caption{}
|
|
\label{fig:salvis-wm75-vwchaikin64-grpk10-1x50k}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\clearpage
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Testing Results Online}
|
|
\label{sec:testing-results-online}
|
|
|
|
An on-line tool\cite{openmapwm} has been developed to test incoming parameters
|
|
to {\WM} algorithm. A user should select a river of interest, enter the
|
|
\textsc{dhalfcircle} parameter and click "Submit". The simplified line feature
|
|
will be overlaid on top of the map.
|
|
|
|
Figure~\ref{fig:openmap-wm-good} illustrates the end result that looks
|
|
reasonably well. Figure~\ref{fig:openmap-wm-bad} illustrates that the algorithm
|
|
produces poorly simplified results for some geometries.
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{openmap-wm-good.png}
|
|
\caption{Example on-line test tool for {\WM} algorithm.}
|
|
\label{fig:openmap-wm-good}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\begin{figure}[ht]
|
|
\centering
|
|
\includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{openmap-wm-bad.png}
|
|
\caption{Another example from the on-line test tool.}
|
|
\label{fig:openmap-wm-bad}
|
|
\end{figure}
|
|
|
|
\section{Conclusions}
|
|
\label{sec:conclusions}
|
|
|
|
Classical and modern line simplification algorithms were evaluated,
|
|
main problems with them identified. A method for {\WM} technical
|
|
implementation was defined, and the algorithm implemented. Each geometric
|
|
transformation was described and visualized. The implemented algorithm was
|
|
applied for different shapes and compared to national (Lithuanian) datasets.
|
|
|
|
About 1,000 lines of Procedural SQL were written for the algorithm and tests,
|
|
and a few hundred lines of supporting scripts in Make, Python, Awk, Bash. With
|
|
the help of its permissive license and early interest, the algorithm code has
|
|
already been used to create a prototype on-line service to evaluate the
|
|
algorithm robustness.
|
|
|
|
\section{Future Suggestions}
|
|
\label{sec:future-suggestions}
|
|
|
|
These are the areas for possible future work with this, published,
|
|
implementation:
|
|
|
|
\begin{itemize}
|
|
|
|
\item Implement bend combination operator
|
|
(section~\ref{sec:combination-operator}).
|
|
|
|
\item Fine-tune parameters for bend exaggeration.
|
|
Section~\ref{sec:generalization-results-of-analyzed-rivers} contains
|
|
a exaggerated bends that became sharp and includes some future ideas.
|
|
|
|
\item What are the exaggeration limits when working with large scales?
|
|
Section~\ref{sec:national-large-scale} discusses examples that some
|
|
limits are necessary.
|
|
|
|
\item Research when bends should be marked as \textsc{isolated}. As is
|
|
seen from examples, the current criteria are not robust enough.
|
|
|
|
\item Once the points above yield a satisfactory result, the efficiency of the
|
|
algorithm could be improved to work on the lines in "streaming" fashion
|
|
(more details in section~\ref{sec:algorithm-implementation-process}).
|
|
|
|
\end{itemize}
|
|
|
|
That sums up what could be improved without changing the algorithm in a
|
|
significant way. Other than that, further area of research is working towards
|
|
graduating the algorithm from "isolated cartographic generalization" to "full
|
|
cartographic generalization". The current operators of {\WM} algorithm have a
|
|
few venues to preserve the surrounding topology. This could be further
|
|
researched and extended.
|
|
|
|
\section{Acknowledgments}
|
|
\label{sec:acknowledgments}
|
|
|
|
I would like to thank my thesis supervisor, Dr. Andrius Balčiūnas, for his help
|
|
in formulating the requirements and providing early editorial feedback for the
|
|
thesis.
|
|
|
|
I am grateful to Tomas Straupis, who handed me the {\WM}\cite{wang1998line}
|
|
paper on a warm pre-COVID summer evening. I got intrigued. He was also an early
|
|
beta-tester of my implementation, and helped me understand where the initial
|
|
algorithm descriptions were ambiguous.
|
|
|
|
Many thanks to NŽT\cite{nzt} for providing the datasets with a very permissive
|
|
license.
|
|
|
|
\printbibliography
|
|
|
|
\begin{appendices}
|
|
|
|
\section{Code Listings}
|
|
|
|
This section contains code listings of the {\WM} algorithm.
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Re-Generating This Paper}
|
|
\label{sec:code-regenerate}
|
|
|
|
As explained in section~\ref{sec:reproducing-the-paper}, illustrations in
|
|
this paper are generated from a small list of sample geometries. To observe
|
|
the source geometries or regenerate this paper, run this script (assuming
|
|
the name of this document is \textsc{mj-msc-full.pdf}).
|
|
|
|
Listing~\ref{lst:extract-and-generate} will extract the source files from
|
|
the \textsc{mj-msc-full.pdf} to a temporary directory, run the top-level
|
|
\textsc{make} command, and display the generated document. Source code for
|
|
the algorithm, as well as other supporting files, can be found in the
|
|
temporary directory.
|
|
|
|
\begin{longlisting}
|
|
\inputcode{bash}{extract-and-generate}
|
|
\caption{\textsc{extract-and-generate}}
|
|
\label{lst:extract-and-generate}
|
|
\end{longlisting}
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Function \textsc{st\_simplifywm}}
|
|
\begin{longlisting}
|
|
\inputcode{postgresql}{wm.sql}
|
|
\caption{\textsc{wm.sql}}
|
|
\label{lst:wm.sql}
|
|
\end{longlisting}
|
|
|
|
\subsection{Function \textsc{aggregate\_rivers}}
|
|
\begin{longlisting}
|
|
\inputcode{postgresql}{aggregate-rivers.sql}
|
|
\caption{\textsc{aggregate-rivers.sql}}
|
|
\label{lst:aggregate-rivers.sql}
|
|
\end{longlisting}
|
|
|
|
\end{appendices}
|
|
\end{document}
|