Integrating multi agent, object oriented and algorithmic techniques for improved automoated map generalisation

This paper summarizes some of the key architectural elements and reviews some of the results of the AGENT project, a research project funded by the European Commission between 12/1997 and 11/2000 as part of the Esprit Programme. The project involved five partners and successfully developed a prototype system to deal with automated map generalization. The prototype is based on Laser-Scan's object-oriented GIS and map production system LAMPS2, uses a multi-agent approach to model cartographic objects and their treatment in generalisation, and uses various newly developed geometric algorithms to measure and transform the cartographic objects in the generalisation process. More information about the project can be found at http://agent.ign.fr/.