UNIT 14: ON-SCREEN DIGITIZING
Written by Gregory Haddock, Assistant Professor of Geography, Northwest Missouri
State University
Context
On-screen digitizing is an interactive process in which a map is created using previously digitized of scanned
information. This method of geocoding is commonly called "heads-up" digitizing because the attention of the
user is focused up on the screen, and not on a digitizing tablet. This technique may be used to trace features
from a scanned map or image to create new layers or themes. On-screen digitizing may also be employed in
an editing session where there is enough information on the screen to accurately add new features without a
reference image or map.
The process of on-screen digitizing is similar to conventional digitizing. Rather than using a digitizer and a
cursor, the user creates the map layer up on the screen with the mouse and typically with referenced
information as a background.
The following two examples are scenarios that illustrate the use of on-screen digitizing.
Example Application #1
A tax mapping facility is charged with the responsibility of updating the planimetric property maps
that the county Assessor uses to compute taxes. Although the county is committed to using a GIS to
store the property information and to compute land areas, the accuracy of the existing maps is less
than ideal. Rather than assume the nearly impossible task of making the entire GIS fit the recent
updating information, the cadastral mapper fits the updated property lines to the existing data.
One lot in question needs to be split off into two separate lots reflecting a recent subdivision and sale of
property. The legal description includes information dealing with a nearby road intersection, a section
line, and the edge of an irrigation canal. The GIS dataset has layers that comprise road networks,
township and range information and public works and canal information. These layers are consistent
with the cadastral plan of the Assessor's property layer.
In the GIS editing process, the roads, canals and section lines are drawn as a background in separate
colors. Armed with the proper information, the new line that reflects the split of property may be
added using the proper reference of the background layers. It is important to realize that the
background layers are not being edited themselves, they are only being referenced.
This process was necessary because the new data may have been more accurately digitized with other
map sources but it would not have "fit" the less than ideal property map that is already in existence.
Example Application #2
This example uses a scanned image as the background reference in the heads-up digitizing approach.
A groundwater hydrologist is interested in modeling the impact of potential nitrate leaching in a
particular study area. Two structures have been identified as being possible sources of pollution. The
greater threat appears to be from animal confinement operations and to a lesser extent, a small
percentage of septic tanks for rural homes could possibly be leaking.
None of the paper map sources has the detailed information necessary to readily digitize this
information from. Fortunately, the hydrologist has obtained recent aerial photographs at a scale
appropriate for discerning houses and feedlots.
To create the two layers identifying feedlots and houses, the images are scanned and used as a
reference background in the editing process. The septic tanks are assumed to be near enough to the
house for modeling purposes and a point is created for each house in that layer. Using the background
image as a reference, the animal confinement locations are digitized by tracing the boundaries of the
feed lots and any sludge lagoons that may be on the premises.
In this example, the accuracy of the digitized septic tank and feedlot locations is only as good as the
resolution and accuracy of the scanned images.
Learning Outcomes
The following list describes the expected skills which students should master for each level of training, i.e.
Awareness/Competency/Mastery.
Awareness:
The expected learning goals of this section are to achieve a general understanding of process of on-screen
digitizing and its potential uses. The student should also posses a working knowledge of traditional digitizing
(with a digitizing tablet) methodologies.
Competency:
The learning goals of this section are to develop the ability to perform specific on-screen digitizing
operations. The student should be able to apply traditional digitizing techniques in order to update existing
layers or create new ones on-screen using other layers in the background of an editing process.
Mastery:
The learning goals of this section are to be able to make all appropriate decisions in the digitizing process
from beginning to end of a particular project. The student is able to use on-screen digitizing with images
scanned from maps, photographs, or satellite data if suitable. The student should also be aware of accuracy
issues dealing with these sources of data.
Preparatory Units
Recommended:
1. Unit 11 - Registration and Conflation
2. Unit 12 - Planning a digitizing project
3. Unit 13 - Digitizing Maps
4. Unit 15 - Labeling
5. Unit 16 - Planning a scanning project
6. Unit 17 - Scanning maps
7. Unit 18 - Scanning airphotos
Complementary:
1. Unit 8 - Error Checking
2. Unit 10 - Projecting data
3. Unit 47 - On screen visualization
Awareness
Learning Objectives:
1. Student can define basic vocabulary relating to digitizing functions.
2. Student understands appropriate situations where on-screen digitizing may be used.
3. Student can describe a real application of on-screen digitizing.
Vocabulary:
attribute
control point
coordinates
coverage
cursor
digitizer
georeference
georegister
heads-up digitizing
image
on-screen digitizing
projection
raster
raster-to-vector conversion
real-world coordinates
rectification
registration
resolution
RMSE (root mean square error)
rubbersheeting
scanner
scanning
tie-points
topology
transformation
vector
vectorization
Topics
1. Unit Concepts
Digitizing on screen as well as traditional digitizing vary widely amongst software/hardware
systems.
Does the software have specific tools for registering scanned images?
Does the software have the capability to show images or other layers in the background of an editing
environment?
Will the background layers be other GIS layers or a scanned image of a photo or map.
Some software allows scanned images to be used as a raster layer, others may temporarily register and
transform the working data against the image.
Competency
Learning Objectives:
1. Student will be able to use on-screen digitizing to perform the following tasks:
Enter the editing process and create a new layer with the same registration as an existing layer.
Be familiar with the editing process to show the proper information on the screen.
Set the editing environment for adding new features.
Editing tools may use keyboard as input.
Editing tools may use mouse as input.
Set the drawing environment to show the new features properly.
Set the background drawing environment to show the background layers for digitizing
reference.
1. Student will be able to use on-screen digitizing to perform the following tasks:
Set up the editing process and update an existing layer on the screen.
Create and edit a new layer based on other layers entirely on-screen.
Tasks:
1. Update an existing map layer using other layers as a reference.
This process uses traditional editing techniques, the only difference is that a digitizer is not the
input device.
Map registration is not necessary, it is assumed that the updated features will be placed in the
proper location using visual cues from the reference layers.
2. Creating a new layer with on-screen digitizing.
This process is exactly the same as updating a layer.
The registration of the coverage needs to be addressed.
Check for proper registration, missing data, and known objects in appropriate locations.
Mastery
Learning Objectives:
1. Student will understand the map registration process and how it applies to on-screen digitizing.
Images may be warped unevenly across the image extent.
Ground Control Points (GCP) must be established on the image to establish a link to real-world
positions.
GCP information may be based on another coverage or on map values.
1. Scanned images may be maps, aerial photographs, or satellite data.
The process for on-screen digitizing is the same for each source.
1. The registration process creates a model that describes how an image must be rectified.
ARC/INFO creates a world file that describes how an image must be scaled, translated, and
rotated.
Scaling changes the size of the pixel cell.
Translation adjusts an X and Y offset to the real world coordinates.
Rotation adjusts the X and Y axis for the true coordinate system.
1. Once images are registered, they may be rectified.
2. Rectified images may be used for on-screen digitizing.
3. Some raster-to-vector conversion programs may automate the digitizing process somewhat.
On-Screen Digitizing Tasks
1. Register a scanned image to a real world coordinate system.
2. Rectify an image that has been registered.
3. Update and create coverages using on-screen techniques and a rectified image.
All GIS systems do not have this functionality. Data can be exported to many spreadsheet software
systems if necessary.
Follow-up Units
Suggested:
1. Unit 17 - Scanning maps
2. Unit 18 - Scanning airphotos
3. Unit 1 - Acquiring existing digital data
4. Unit 9 - Converting digital spatial data
5. Unit 16 - Planning a scanning project
Resources
The ESRI Arcscan site and a white paper dedicated to automated digitizing techniques.
An example of using heads-up digitizing to delineate contaminate areas in wellhead protection by
Christopher Barnett, Yan Zhou, Steven Vance and Christopher Fulcher from the Center for Agricultural,
Resource and Environmental Systems at University of Missouri - Columbia.
An example of medical facility placement that utilizes heads-up digitizing.
An example of heads-up digitizing in identifying locations of the Mojave Desert Tortoise.
Back To Core Curriculum for Technical Programs Welcome Page
Currently maintained by Steve Palladino
Created: May 14, 1997. Last updated: October 5, 1998.
Content comments to Gregory Haddock
Formatting comments to Steve Palladino
