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approximate procedures.
A similar distinction can be made with regard to problems of storage,
processing and editing. Grid processing will be by far the most simple (Dueker
and Horton 1972, Ackerknecht 1969) but is limited in its application. Point
referencing combined with the “personal number” of the population records
enables Scandinavian countries to use administrative data for planning.
Mention should be made of a series of population density maps made from
such a data base in Finland (Kajama and Vahala 1974). The absence of a
network, however, is a rather critical drawback of this system.
Segment referencing seems an attractive solution since it deals both with
location and networks, while dual independent coding makes editing easier
(van Est 1975). Some interesting planning applications have been demonstrated
for this method, eg the location of public facilities (Salomonsson 1975).
To be entered into the data base, information from remote sensing
sources will have to be geocoded as well. This is relatively easy in the case of
grid referencing but requires special methods in the case of point or segment
referencing, as these are address-based systems.
The use of stereo orthophoto maps showing the location of centroids, or
segment positions, could then be considered, so that information can be
entered via a digitiser/stereoscope combination.
USEMAP
An example of an information system for a situation with only limited
administrative data has been developed by the ITC under the name of USEMAP.
USEMAP is a grid-based system that can be operated even in the absence of
reliable maps, designed for maximum input from photography. It can be
used for small area population estimates and for planning tasks such as the
definition of intervention priorities, assessment of residential quality etc.
(figure 5). The programmes were designed in such a way that they can be used
without any knowledge of computers. By comparing data from different
years, changes can be mapped and analysed (de Bruijn 1974).
Monitoring Changes in Time
The possibility of obtaining dynamic series by interpreting photos from
different base years seems one of the most important applications of photo-
interpretation to urban planning (see figure 6). Especially the growth of