Abstract


Cost Effective Methods for updating National Topographic Databases

Hamed Khamis AlKaabi
Military Survey, UAE Armed Force
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Email: hamed@uaesurvey.ae

Abdul Salam Mohammed
Military Survey, UAE Armed Force
Email: salam@uaesurvey.ae



Abstract
UAE maintains huge amount of geographic data in vector, raster and DTM formats. Agencies responsible for maintaining these data sets have developed it independently. As a result, several stand-alone systems have been generated with only limited possibility of sharing. These data sets become obsolete quickly as a result of the rapid urban growth. For updating these data sets, agencies do new surveys independently, demanding heavy government funding. Constraints on the budget allocations putting pressure on geospatial data agencies in meeting the increased demand for the most-updated data required for the developmental activities.

In most of the cases, infrastructure developments demanding the frequent updates in the databases are happening with prior authorization from the related agencies. Though available, information pertaining to these developments, however, is not able to use for updating the databases. The factors mainly affecting the process are the absence of common data standards, metadata services and geospatial data-coordinating agency at the national level. In recent years, agencies, however, realize the need of coordinated efforts in building-up and maintaining the data sets required for the developmental activities of the country.

By considering such favorable conditions in the geospatial data environment, authors are proposing cost effective methods for maintaining the geospatial data up-to-date in a collaborative approach involving geospatial data agencies in the UAE. Updating methodology will focus on automating the acquisition of new high-precision spatial data using multiple data sources with consistent geo-referencing, suitable geometric transformations and use of appropriate algorithms. Data sources such as existing maps, geospatial data sets, remotely sensed imagery, information related to new constructions and the commercial licensing process, will be used for the purpose.