bul 2004 
»y Real- 
alisation. 
chil 28 
hg eines 
aphische 
aphische 
Ing von 
(Hrsg.), 
Schema, 
11, 65. p. 
accessed 
ographic 
available 
arch 25, 
-project, 
system 
lable at 
ch 25 
tions by 
geneous 
ves. ^ of 
ion IV, 
rsen; L., 
T-2000- 
bles.php 
accessed 
ff, Hier, 
20021 
ge … fui 
ceedings 
yrmation 
)p. 585- 
[., lilert, 
2002b. 
National 
national 
g and 
Ottawa, 
e Data- 
T-2000- 
igh the 
MULTIPLE REPRESENTATION DATABASES TO SUPPORT VISUALISATION ON 
MOBILE DEVICES 
M. Hampe * *, M. Sester“ , L. Harrie ° 
a Institute of Cartography and Geoinformatics, University of Hannover, Appelstrafle 9a, 30167 Hannover, Germany — 
(mark.hampe, monika.sester)@ikg.uni-hannover.de 
b National Land Survey of Sweden, SE-801 82 Gävle, Sweden - lars.harrie@lantm.lth.se 
Commission IV, WG IV/2 
KEY WORDS: Cartography, Multiresolution, Databases, Generalisation, Mobile, Real-time, Visualisation 
ABSTRACT: 
This paper presents some applications of mobile map technology utilising an MRDB (multi-resolution/-representation database). An 
MRDB can be described as a spatial database, which can be used to store the same real world phenomenon at different levels of 
thematic and geometric detail. Additionally the corresponding objects in the different levels are linked. Case studies of utilising an 
MRDB in combination with WFS (Web Feature Service) have been implemented and will be presented in this paper. To compensate 
the limitations of the small display of mobile devices multiscale maps are created. The scale will decrease continuously starting in 
the centre up to the map border, like a magnifying glass effect. Additionally in the centre of the map the built-up areas are exchanged 
by buildings. Another use of the MRDB is to emphasise special objects like landmarks or points of interest inside the map. These 
objects of interest are presented in a higher LoD (Level of Detail) than the other objects to direct the attention of the user to the 
important facts of the map and to design a clear visualisation. The MRDB can be helpful to support these kinds of presentations and 
applications as it maintains all the necessary data (levels of detail) and also the necessary links between these levels. This study is 
part of GiMoDig, a European project that aims at developing methods for spatial data distribution from national primary geo- 
databases to mobile users. 
KURZFASSUNG: 
Eine MRDB ist eine räumliche Datenbank, welche die selben Objekte der Umwelt in unterschiedlichen Auflösungen und 
Genauigkeiten speichert. Gleichzeit werden die korrespondierenden Objekte in der Datenbank miteinander verlinkt. Es wurden 
verschiedene Anwendungen entwickelt, welche in Kombination mit einem WFS (Web Feature Service) mobil auf diese MRDB 
zugreifen, Um beispielsweise die Nachteile kleiner Displays auszugleichen, wurden multiskalige Karten erzeugt. Hierbei nimmt der 
Maßstab von der Mitte oder der Position des Nutzers ausgehend kontinuierlich ab, gleichzeitig werden die Objekte im 
Betrachtungszentrum durch Objekte höherer Auflösung ersetzt. Eine zweite Anwendung visualisiert Landmarken und points of 
interest (Pol's) durch Darstellung der relevanten Objekte mit einer höheren Auflösung als die übrigen Geometrien. Diese und weitere 
Anwendungen werden erst durch die Struktur und den Inhalt einer multiskaligen Datenbank ermöglicht. In dem EU-Projekt 
GiMoDig werden Methoden entwickelt, um in Echtzeit räumliche Daten, welche in den Datenbanken der europäischen 
Landesvermessungen vorliegen, an einen mobilen Nutzer zu senden. Innerhalb dieses Projektes werden die Vorteile einer 
multiskaligen Datenbank zur Unterstützung der Echtzeit-Generalisierung untersucht. Gleichzeitig wird diese MRDB genutzt, um 
neue Möglichkeiten zur Visualisierung räumlicher Daten auf kleinen Displays zu entwickeln. 
1. INTRODUCTION conventional cartography to visualise spatial data cannot be 
adopted. New alternative ways have to be found to visualise the 
The latest Canalys report (Canalys 2004) points out a still spatial information on a mobile device. On the other hand to 
increasing trend related to the number of mobile devices. The produce mobile maps on demand offers new possibilities as it 
EMEA (Europe, Middle-East, Africa) markets register an can be adapted for a single person and his or her special needs. 
increase from 1,5 Mill. (Q1/2003) up to 2,5 Mill. (Q1/2004) The spatial data are edited on demand at the moment they are 
new mobile devices like PDA's (Personal Digital Assistants) or requested within a few seconds. That means these adaptive 
Smartphones. With the increasing number of these devices the maps are created individually for each user at the moment they 
number of applications for these kind of devices is also are needed and containing only the actually essential 
increasing. Among these a number of application areas, like information. During this process certain objects can be 
Location Based Services (LBS) or navigation tools, utilise emphasised and objects the user is not interested in can be left 
maps. out. 
The problem at this point is the design of the maps for mobile The aim of our study is to provide individual maps which 
devices. The deficiency of these mobile maps compared to .emphasise the objects of interest and present background 
conventional paper maps or screen maps are the limitations in objects only in a coarse depiction. This process can, 
size and resolution. That means that the criteria of the theoretically, be performed only by using real-time 
  
Corresponding author