Experiments with a rule-based system for interpreting linear map features

In this paper we report about a research project which examined the feasibility as well as the applicability of building a system that controls the interpretation of linear features in digitized topographic maps. We developed a prototype system based on OPS5, a rule-based programming language. The control strategy of the inference process is influenced by control knowledge. Because the rules we used emphasize relations between objects rather than properties of a specific object, the system becomes task-driven. Results obtained from a section of a USGS quadrangle map are encouraging, and future work will involve refining the prototype as well as increasing the complexity by adding more objects. -Authors