Geographic Data File Configuration for Office Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
The collection and processing of geographic data face challenges due to the lack of a standardized code set for geographic features, leading to difficulties in data collection and interpretation, as well as incompatibility between field data collection and office processing applications, resulting in inefficient data exchange and increased human error.
Innovation Solution
A method for collaborative display of geographic data is implemented through the creation of a configuration file that defines how collected data is displayed, allowing geographic data collectors to format data for office applications to visually convey feature information, using visual display properties such as symbols, colors, and attributes, facilitating intuitive understanding without prior knowledge of the site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If ASCII codes are used to minimize computing resource usage, then memory and data storage are reduced, but the surveyor must memorize all codes or carry reference materials, increasing operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
A configuration file serves as an intermediary between the field data collection device and office processing application. This file contains standardized feature definitions that map ASCII codes to human-readable feature descriptions, eliminating the need for surveyors to memorize codes while maintaining minimal data storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Feature libraries and configuration files are prepared in advance with standardized definitions of all geographic features and their corresponding ASCII codes. This preliminary standardization allows the system to use minimal storage during field collection while automatically providing code interpretations during office processing without requiring manual memorization.
2Ease of manufacture
If field data collection and office processing applications are developed as stand-alone applications, then each application can be optimized for its specific function, but data files are not formatted to be compatible between applications, increasing data exchange complexity
Solution Approach 1:
A universal configuration file format is implemented that can be read by both field data collection devices and office processing applications. This configuration file contains standardized feature definitions that both applications use, enabling seamless data exchange while allowing each application to maintain its own optimized functionality for data collection and processing respectively.
3Productivity
If only basic geographic data points and lines are displayed without additional feature attributes, then the display is simple and easy to generate, but office technicians cannot interpret the meaning of features without prior site knowledge, increasing interpretation effort
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically retrieves and attaches feature attribute parameters from the standardized configuration file to each displayed geographic feature. This allows the office application to generate comprehensive displays with full feature descriptions (such as tree species, utility types, road classifications) automatically, maintaining fast generation speeds while eliminating the need for technicians to have prior site knowledge.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention recite a method for collaborative display of geographic data. In one embodiment, a configuration file is created which defines how geographic data collected by a geographic data collection device is to be displayed by an office application. The configuration file is used to create a geographic data file in which collected geographic data is formatted to visually convey information about a geographic feature. The office application then accesses the geographic data file and automatically displays the geographic feature in a manner which is consistent with the configuration file.