Interactive Digital Terrain Data Displays.
Abstract
The Defense Mapping Agency produces and maintains cartographic digital data bases in support of military flight simulation and aeronautical operations. These data bases include terrain elevations over various geographic areas, stored in grids of varying intervals. In order to have effective management of these digital data bases, it is necessary to display them quickly, in a format which permits human comprehension of the information. An Image Manipulation Station (IMS) has been developed for this purpose. It is a color display processor interfaced to a minicomputer, magnetic tape drive and disk storage device. The IMS reads digital terrain elevations from magnetic tape, manipulates the data with software and displays various images of the information. The programs generate an image with the general appearance of topographic relief. Shaded relief and anaglyph stereo views can be added to further enhance the image. Color views are also generated for analysis purposes. Because the data base and the displayed image are congruent, an analyst can point to a position in the image and display the corresponding terrain elevation values on a CRT terminal. The IMS satisfies quality control requirements in a timely and inexpensive way. It allows the analyst to view the digital data quickly and positively to ensure that a data tape generated for distribution to field users is complete, free of discontinuities and covers the required geographic area. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 25, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA085940
Entities
People
- Richard A. Berg