brugalle@cicb.fr (Annie Brugalle) (10/05/90)
I have a problem to resolve in cartography, is there anybody who can help me? here is my problem : On a map, I want to place towns with their names in boxes. Sometimes, the boxes are too close to each other and names overlap. Do you know about an algorithm which allows a good placement of the boxes automatically ? Sincerely, My e-mail : BRUGALLE@CICB.FR
robert@texas.asd.sgi.com (Robert Skinner) (10/06/90)
In article <1990Oct5.110351.3996@cicb.fr>, brugalle@cicb.fr (Annie Brugalle) writes: |> I have a problem to resolve in cartography, is there anybody who can help me? |> |> here is my problem : |> |> On a map, I want to place towns with their names in boxes. Sometimes, the |> boxes are too close to each other and names overlap. |> |> Do you know about an algorithm which allows a good placement of the |> boxes automatically ? |> |> |> Sincerely, |> |> My e-mail : BRUGALLE@CICB.FR there was an article in a recent IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications on this subject. I didn't read the article, but I did get an idea of the subject matter. I don't remember which issue it was in either, but I know its been in the last year. (aren't I informative?) Robert Skinner Thinking quickly, the IBM System Jock uttered an incantation in EBCDIC and made the sign of the Terminated Fork. The UNIX Guru only smiled and trapped him in a recursive SED script.
thomson@cs.utah.edu (Rich Thomson) (10/09/90)
In article <1990Oct5.110351.3996@cicb.fr> brugalle@cicb.fr (Annie Brugalle) writes: >On a map, I want to place towns with their names in boxes. > Do you know about an algorithm which allows a good placement of the >boxes automatically ? The article referenced by another poster can be found in the September 1989 issue of _IEEE Computer Graphics & Applications_. Here is the abstract: ``A major problem in computer cartography is how to place names on maps so they are clearly associated with the features they annotate, while avoiding overlap with other names and features. The logic programming language Prolo can be used to express the name-placement problem as a set of rules, referring primarily to the identification of free spcae, the generation of trial label positions, and the resolution of conflict between these positions. Cartographic features can be specified explicitly as facts, in the Prolog database, or implicitly, by presenting Prolog with the results of a prior analysis of potential label positions. The Prolog inference mechanism can then determine whether there is a combination of label positions that satisfies the rules of placement.'' Hope this helps. -- Rich Rich Thomson thomson@cs.utah.edu {bellcore,hplabs,uunet}!utah-cs!thomson ``If everybody is thinking the same thing, is anybody thinking?'' --Bob Johnson
thomson@cs.utah.edu (Rich Thomson) (10/09/90)
I accidentally omitted the author of the IEEE article that I referred
to in my last post.
"Cartographic Name Placement with Prolog",
Christopher B. Jones, Polytechnic of Wales,
IEEE Computer Graphics & Applications,
Volume 9, Number 5 (September 1989)
-- Rich
Rich Thomson thomson@cs.utah.edu {bellcore,hplabs,uunet}!utah-cs!thomson
``If everybody is thinking the same thing, is anybody thinking?'' --Bob Johnson