The application of agents in automated map generalization

This paper reports on current research utilising agent based methodologies in order to provide solutions in autonomous map generalization. The research is in pursuit of systems able to support the derivation of multi scaled products from a single detailed database with minimal human intervention in the map compilation process. Such research has important implications for automated conflation (multiple database integration), and is in response to the huge growth in provision of digital map data over the Internet (Buttenfield 1997; Davies 1997), coupled with a broadening community of map users who wish to visualise information in a variety of ways but who have little cartographic skill.