A truly automated system for New Zealand’s Topographic Maps

Geoff Howard, Fran McNamara and Graeme Blick

Land Information New Zealand

November 2009

Options considered

1. A one-off enhancement of the NZTopo Database

required the enhancement of LINZ’s 1Spatial LAMPS2 system and the creation of rules, methods and symbolgies including text placement to deliver cartographic quality outputs from the database.

2. Continuation of outsourcing map production

required external contractors to use LINZ data and produce the required maps and arrange printing on a sheet by sheet basis

Key Considerations

• The datum for New Zealand’s mapping had changed

• A global projection was needed

• Printing technologies are making it difficult to print large format maps

• Plate making from traditional film positives is becoming difficult

• A well structured Topographic Database existed

• Increase the frequency of map editions within existing budgets

Cartographic Challenges

• Develop comprehensive documentation and specifications• LINZ and 1Spatial project teams would need to be aligned• Develop ways to represent our data without altering the spatial location• Develop rules and tools that allowed text to be placed cartographically• Develop a comprehensive list of object display priorities• Develop representations based on multiple objects and combinations of

attributes from these objects• Text Masking• Generate Grid and Graticule• Adding the Relief Shading• Adding the legend and marginalia

The Topo50 Map

Automatic Grid And Graticule Values

Resolving Symbology Clashes

Embankments

Creating Representations From Multiple Objects

Ford

Modifying Representations Based On Multiple Objects

Cliff

Partial Modification Of Representation Based on Multiple Objects

Rocky Coastline

Creating Representations Based On Multiple Object Representations

Bridge

Creating Multiple Representations On A Single Object

Contour through ice

Influencing text display based on existence of another object

Road names in residential areas

Boosting Representations

Roads over and under each other

Text masking

Text over

a bitmap fill

Text Masking

Other examples from the Prepress showing the ability to alter the mask depending on the colour of the linework beneath the text

Text Masking

Black text masking black linework, but not blue

Text Masking

Black saddle symbol masking black road casing , but not red road infill

Automating The New Topo50 Maps

Raster images

Tiff format (the whole map including legend and index)

GeoTiff format (spatial data area only with georeferencing)

Communicating The Change

• Warehouse & Distribution

Resource material

What we achieved

• Coordinated support and adoption of a new Topographic Map series by Defence & Emergency service organizations

• Developed a truly automated production flow-line• Integrated topographic maintenance & production• Improved topographic capability, quicker cheaper

production of paper maps & produced GeoTiffs and Tiffs for free dissemination

• Produced and warehoused 451 Topographic Map titles

• Distributed over 100,000 maps in one week• Successfully replaced a national map series on 23rd

Sep 2009

Questions?