thematic information automatically from digital
photogrammetric system or/and remote sensing
image processing system and then enter them
(sometimes with orthophoto image) directly into
GIS. Thus we have an unseparated , complete system
composed of photogrammetry, remote sensing and
GIS.
Considering the fact that the data structure of image
processing is almost universal in the use of the raster
format and the digital mapping and GIS Systems on
the other hand typically use the vector format, the
integration of photogrammetry, remote sensing and
GIS will largely depend on the capability to perform
a convenient data exchange between raster and
vector formats. This gives rise to the necessity of
finding a kind of unified data structure, as for
example the linear quadtree structure where raster
data can be treated like the stuctural vector data and
vector data can be expressed with raster code
numders/Li and Gong, 1991/. There is indeed a lot
to be worked out in GIS theory in order to manage,
query, process and display raster and vector data
without the need of conversions.
From above discussion we can see that the Spatial
Information System (SIS), which is a general term
for Geographic Information System (GIS) Land
Information System (LIS), Digital Object Model (
DOM) , Digital Surface Model (DSM) and many
others, has been and will be becoming unseparable
from photogrammetry and remote sensing.
In fact as early as in the 1960s when the term GIS
was first used in the developmant of the Canaidan
GIS, it was already closely associated with the
government Surveying and Mapping Organization/
Tomlinson 1972/. As for LIS it was a product for
the automation of cadastral surveying.
In 1974 during the 14th FIG Congress, a definition
was first proposed for LIS. In consideration of this
integration International Union of Surveying and
Mapping (IUSM) has given a definition of Surveys
and mapping in its 1990 statutes; “Surveys and
mapping is the science, art, technology and ecnomic
aspects of collection,
measurement, processing,
308
analysis, interpretation, portrayal, dissamination,
utilization and evaluation of geographically and other
spatially referenced data ”.
The role of ISPRS has been investigated by John
Trinder, chairman of an ad hoc committee /Trinder
1991/.
As we mentioned above the term GIS was first used
by Tomlinson, who was a member of the American
Society for Phtogrammetry. During 1970— 1980 the
theory of DEM and its application, which can be as a
part of GIS data base, was a major studying topic in
ISP. In 1980, the Bylaws of ISPRS included a
change of name of commission IV to “Cartographic
and Data Bank Application of Photogrammetry and
Remote Sensing”, while the terms of reference of this
commission included the term “ Geographic
Information System”. In the 1984 — 88 period, an
Inter - Commission working group was chaired by
Professor Roy Welch with the title “ Computer
Graphics, Digital Technology and Land Information
System”. Papers at Kyoto Congress in 1988 covered
such topics as data acquisition, data structures,
integration of raster and vector techniques, GIS
and data model for GIS.
recommended
design and creation,
Resolutions of Kyoto Congress
significantly greater emphasis on GIS techniques in
Comm. II and IV.
During 1988 — 1992 our Comm. M has the
following working groups; 1/1, Geographic
Information Theory, II/2 Object Reconstruction
and Location by image Analysis, II /3 Thematic
Information Extraction from Digital Images, II /4
Knowledge Based System. These works are clearly
beyond the data acquisition stage of GIS and to
include the modelling of GIS data, data and database
knowledge quality
of geographic data and dynamic
structure, representation ,
assessment
modelling. In similar situation Comm. IV has six
working groups which deal with the theory of GIS
data acquisition, management and application of
GIS. Also the seven WGs in Comm. VI are all
related to the GIS application and indicate the
integration of remote sensing with GIS.
