METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING DIGITAL MAP DATA

摘要

A method and apparatus for processing digital map data, which is useful in making accurate road maps and can be used for navigation and control of vehicles based on such road maps. A map image processing station (16) includes an image processor (20) that receives photographic data of geographical profiles through a station (14) for communication with a satellite and converts the received photographic data into orthographic data equivalent to images viewed perpendicularly without distortion. A skeleton map (road network data) including information about roads and their associated 3-dimensional data is extracted from the orthographic data by a data extractor (22). The skeleton map is processed by a data converter (24) to provide basic road data, and desired attribute data are combined by a mapper (28) to provide precise digital orthographic map data with less distortion. The resulting data are distributed from a transmitter (30) to vehicles (18) for use in navigation and vehicle control.