DATA FUSION AND DATA INTEGRATION OF RASTER AND VECTOR DATA 
Dr.-Ing. Manfred Wiggenhagen, Institute for Photogrammetry and Engineering Surveys, 
University of Hannover, Germany 
Commission VI, Working Group 1 
KEY WORDS: Education, Training, Fusion, Format, Method, Mosaic, Software 
ABSTRACT: 
This paper presents methods and algorithms for data fusion and data integration of digital raster and vector data. In 
education and training it is very important to explain the differences of standard image file formats, the necessary 
transformation methods and practical solutions for image processing on personal computers and workstations. 
Principally two different data types have to be considered. Raster formats of digital satellite and digitized aerial 
photographs as well as vector formats for all additional interpretations can be handled by most of the known standard 
and individual software packages. It is shown that standard hardware and software components on modern personal 
computers are sufficient for image interpretation and image processing in education. To enlarge the acceptance of 
potential applicants new individual image processing software has been developed which will be described in this paper. 
With this software geometric image correction, rectification, digital image mosaicing and radiometric correction of digital 
images can be carried out in education and training. 
KURZFASSUNG: 
Dieser Beitrag beschreibt Methoden und Verfahren zur Datenverknüpfung und -integration digitaler Raster- und 
Vektordaten. Innerhalb der Lehre und Weiterbildung ist es sehr wichtig den Auszubildenden die Unterschiede zwischen 
Standardbildformaten, notwendigen Transformationsansätzen und praktische Lösungen für die Bildverwaltung auf 
Personal Computern und Arbeitsstationen aufzuzeigen. Es müssen grundsätzlich zwei unterschiedliche Datentypen 
berücksichtigt werden. Standard- und Individualprogramme verarbeiten Rasterformate der digitalen Satelliten- und 
Luftbilder ebenso wie Vektorformate aus zusätzlichen Interpretationen. Es wird gezeigt, daß Standardhardware- und 
Softwarekomponenten auf modernen Personal Computern für die Ausbildung ausreichen, um Bildverarbeitung und 
Bildinterpretation durchzuführen. Um die Akzeptanz der Software durch mögliche Anwender zu erhöhen, wurde neue 
Individualsoftware entwickelt, die in diesem Beitrag beschrieben wird. Mit dieser Software können innerhalb der 
Ausbildung geometrische Bildkorrekturen, digitale Entzerrung, digitale Mosaikbildung und radiometrische Korrektur 
digitaler Bilder durchgeführt werden. 
To enter the field of PC-based applications all digital data 
sets have to be converted to the usual PC image formats 
1. INTRODUCTION PCX, BMP or TIF. Most of the digitized aerial photographs 
include additional‘ translations, rotations and scalings. 
In the field of scientific education and training it is very The orientation and the resolution of these images and 
important to use standard hardware and software digitized maps have to be matched before final data 
components. Although operational processing tools are integration steps can be carried out. In the mentioned 
installed on UNIX-based workstations, the application of educational software modules different orientation angles 
modern PC based systems is necessary to reduce costs will be calculated from two up to four tiepoints. Image 
and to enlarge the software acceptance of students and resolution and map scaling are also calculated by two 
applicants. Therefore several PC-based software tools measured tiepoints. 
have been developed at the Institute for Photogrammetry To enable operational data access an overall map scale 
and Engineering Surveys of the University of Hannover has to be fixed before serving as a base map. For remote 
(IPI). sensing applications a map scale between 1 : 25 000 and 
1: 200 000 is recommended. In the field of terrestrial 
1.1 General Requirements photogrammetry scaling is set to 1 : 150 up to 1 : 20. For 
the rectification of remote sensing images, topographic 
For digital data fusion different standard image formats maps or base maps will be digitized with a flatbed 
have to be considered. On UNIX-based SUN workstations — scanner and are used as raster images for the later data 
the SUN rasterfile format is one of the most common . fusion and mosaicing process. In the case of terrestrial 
image formats. applications, existing line drawings will be digitized or 
It is used for image storage as well as for the storage of vector data sets will be used for the following registration 
digital elevation models. and interpretation steps. 
138 
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B6. Vienna 1996 
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