its 
ture 
more 
been 
id. 
tial 
in 
more 
well 
ical 
of 
to 
vof 
ngs, 
'e in 
past 
)1 ved 
next 
with 
)1ces 
rman 
there 
be 
of 
the 
sted 
"tanc 
role 
that 
1rope 
to 
Oo 
ation 
the 
will 
and 
and 
the 
SGII. 
UPDATING COMPLEX DATABASES - THE NEXT STEP 
MJ D Brand BA FRICS,:Director and Chief Executive 
Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland 
President OEEPE Commission 1 
Special Session, OEEPE 
KEY WORDS: Orthoimage, Photogrammetry, Updating, Archiving, DEM/DTM, Scanner, 
GIS 
ABSTRACT 
Digital topographic databases are fundamental to management of an 
ever-increasing range of business functions within a GIS environment. It 
follows that currency of such databases is critical to effective use of the new 
technology. 
The more complex the topographic information involved the greater are the 
implications to the updating procedures, particularly if in addition to current 
data, archiving of a historical perspective is a requirement. To date these 
matters have remained largely unaddressed by software houses generally. 
The issue increases in importance daily and it is logical that OEEPE should 
play a leading role in promoting this follow-up activity. Such activity must 
focus on the use of newer technology, typically digital photogrammetry and 
monoplotting, and identify means to effectively apply such methodologies to 
complex topographically structured, multi-featured coded databases. 
The recently completed OEEPE Commission 1 project "Updating of Complex Digital 
Topographic Databases" was a major attempt to tease out the principles involved 
and the difficulties to be overcome in seeking solutions. The paper outlines 
these and develops on its findings. 
INTRODUCTION which complicates the situation, the 
principles established are equally 
The Updating of Complex Topographic applicable to a database holding 
Databases (OEEPE Official Publication small scale information. 
No 30) project of March 1995, which I 
would commend to all involved in this While it succeeded in bringing to the 
field, addressed a number of areas of forefront issues which few had 
database maintenance. These covered tackled or even considered and acted 
all aspects of updating both the as a forum to reflect the views of a 
graphic and; its attributes : “and number of organisations operating at 
explained how provision of "change the leading edge, a number of issues 
only" information, archiving of an remained unresolved at its 
historical perspective and completion. These were focused into 
interrogation :of the. letter. for four key areas where software 
specific historical points/periods, development was recommended. 
could best be accomplished. 
i. Recording of the time/ 
The project examined the issues on historical dimension. 
the basis of maintaining a digital 
topographic database containing large ii. Production of user friendly/ 
scale information as this offered the cost effective updating 
greatest potential to deal in a procedures. 
practical way with the problems of 
updating complex, topologically 111. Development of software which 
structured, multi-feature coded data. can not only produce, but also 
Aside from the generalisation issue accept, change only data. 
33 
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B6. Vienna 1996