AN INTEGRATED DIGITAL MAPPING SYSTEM 
FOR DATA CAPTURE AND EDITING 
Dr. M. Mosaad Allam 
and 
Charles C.K. Wong 
Surveys and Mapping Branch 
Department of Energy, Mines and Resources 
615 Booth Street 
Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA KIA OE9 
ABSTRACT 
Digital mapping systems including interactive computer graphics systems and 
geographic information systems have been gradually proliferating in mapping 
agencies since early 1970's for the creation of digital cartographic, topographic 
and land related data bases. In the Surveys and Mapping Branch, map data in 
digital form is captured using several data acquisition systems, to allow for the 
capture of the digital data from various source material. The paper addresses the 
technologies used in the Branch for the capture of error-free digital data which 
consist of the interactive digital photogrammetric stereo compilation sub-system, 
the automatic digitizing (raster scanning) sub-system, and the interactive 
display/editing and tagging sub-system. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
The increased appreciation of the advantage of map data in digital form is 
accelerating the application of digital mapping and automated cartography 
technologies. Various users who have traditionally related their data to locations 
on the Earth's surface through the medium of printed maps have now converted to 
or are planning to convert to electronic data processing. For the creation and 
maintenance of geo- and space-related digital information systems, numerous 
government mapping agencies and private industry are actively engaged in 
collecting digital mapping data. This is basically done for several reasons 
including: 
-creating a digital base which is a national asset in the same way as 
conventional map series; 
-achieving a higher level of flexibility over conventional mapping, by 
combining the digital map data with other digital data in ways which 
expand the role of maps into many facets of planning; 
-improving productivity and responsiveness in the generation of digital or 
analog maps and charts; 
-generally, achieving a higher degree of accuracy through the various stages 
from data acquisition to data output by automated means; 
-cost effectiveness at the user stage by widening the range of applications 
of digital data; 
-avoiding duplication in the data capture phase and thus reducing redundant 
data; and 
-long term spin-off for mapping organizations and future cost savings in the 
revision of maps and the production of derived maps. 
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