IGN France choose Radius Clarity for new project

25 June 2008, 5:39pm

25th June 2008, Cambridge, UK. 1Spatial is delighted to announce that IGN France has chosen Radius Clarity to undertake automatic cartographic generalisation of their data.

Institut Geographique National (IGN) France is the French national mapping agency whose mission is to describe the national territory and its land cover, using this for any relevant representations and transmitting the corresponding information. IGN offers a wide range of geographical information services and products to local authorities and government departments, businesses and the general public.

IGN France has previously used 1Spatial’s automated generalisation technology to create 1:100,000 mapping from its database at 1:50,000, and for research and development work. This new project will see 1Spatial deliver a new version of Radius Clarity (v2.7), featuring algorithms for building and road generalisation that have been tailored specifically to be fit for use within an automated production flowline. It will also deliver enhancements to Radius Clarity's current user interface and will consolidate the developments made during previous projects using Radius Clarity, into a single version of the product. The framework contract allows for the equipment of up to 100 users within the next four years.

Radius Clarity is 1Spatial’s platform for automated generalisation. It provides the facilities to build automated generalisation production flowlines and an environment to develop and research new generalisation algorithms. By employing Agent technology, advanced artificial intelligence techniques have been introduced into the map production process. The agents enable the automated map production process to capture context sensitivity during processing. Radius Clarity’s unique technology offers users the opportunity to derive new mapping products from existing data, to speed up the cartographic generalisation process and to reduce manual errors and inconsistencies within products.

François Lecordix, New Base Map Project Chief at IGN France said:

“Following a European-wide tender, we chose 1Spatial’s Radius Clarity for automatic generalisation and cartographic processing. Using Agent technologies and research from COGIT laboratory, Radius Clarity will allow the regeneration of our topographic Base Map series (1:25,000, 1:50,000), which will be produced directly from our geographic database. The use of this new technology will enable IGN to make new and important progress in the difficult subject of cartographic generalisation.”

Michael Sanderson, Chief Executive Officer of 1Spatial added:

“Having worked with IGN France in the past, we are delighted that they have chosen us to work with them again on this project to advance the cartographic generalisation process. It provides us with the opportunity to further develop our Radius Clarity platform in tune with the needs of the market. It is a great step forward to see IGN France putting their flowline into production.”

1Spatial