Approach to general data model of GIS symbol library and symbol library data exchange XML schema

Abstract

Symbol portrayal is an important function of GIS. Sharing symbolic information in different GIS platforms is necessary for GIS applications and users. This paper discusses the necessity, possibility and solution technique of sharing a symbol library in different GIS platforms. The route map is designed as follows: first, to set up a general data model for the symbol library, then to design a standard exchange format, and finally to call on the GIS manufacturer to provide the interchange tools for their symbol library for the standard exchange format. This paper analyzes the general characteristics of GIS symbolic library, gives a symbol library model and a draft of XML schema of the symbol library exchange format.

Symbol recognition and automatic conversion in GIS vector maps

“…Additionally, a high requirement is need for the symbols recognition in these methods; hence, only a few symbols can be identified, resulting in a low recognition efficiency for real-time performance. Some scholars have proposed other ideas that are focused on symbol data structure, and established the description models of symbols based on various principles, such as XML, GML, SVG and TrueType, to design the universal map symbols (Yin et al 2004;Tao et al 2005;Antoniou and Tsoulos 2006;Mihalynuk 2006;Qin et al 2008;Li et al 2009;Chen et al 2014). In theory, these approaches can provide favourable conditions and enlightenment for symbol recognition; however, only the description and design of symbols is discussed in this research, and no model or method is established yet.…”