Pairwise Line Labeling of Geographic Boundaries: An Efficient and Practical Algorithm

Authors

  • Maxim Rylov GIScience Research Group, Institute of Geography, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany;
  • Andreas Reimer GIScience Research Group, Institute of Geography, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany;

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14714/CP79.1212

Keywords:

automated label placement, automated cartography, quality evaluation, computational geometry, GIS mapping

Abstract

We present an algorithm that labels linear features with two matched toponyms describing the left and the right side of a line, respectively. Such a pairwise line labeling strategy is commonly used in manually produced maps to differentiate administrative or other geographic divisions. Our approach solves two basic tasks of the automated map labeling problem, namely candidate-position generation and position evaluation for a given scale. The quality of the name placement is evaluated by comparison to a set of established cartographic principles and guidelines for linear features. We give some results of our experiments based on real datasets. The implementation of our algorithm shows that it is simple and robust, and the resulting sample maps demonstrate its practical efficiency.

Downloads

Published

2015-05-20

How to Cite

Rylov, M., & Reimer, A. (2015). Pairwise Line Labeling of Geographic Boundaries: An Efficient and Practical Algorithm. Cartographic Perspectives, (79), 5–21. https://doi.org/10.14714/CP79.1212

Issue

No. 79 (2014)

Section

Peer-Reviewed Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).