Digitalization, Protection And Adjustment Of The Topographic Maps Of The Earlier Republic Of China, Henan Province

At the end of Qing Dynasty and beginning of Republic of China (ROC), western surveying and mapping technology has been introduced to China. Most area of China has been surveyed and measured. However, these maps are mostly collected and evaluated as cultural antique relic. Their scientific values are not really discovered and utilized. Nowadays, as the booming of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), new ideas have been introduced into classical historical geography researches. Academic circles give a high ranking and expectation about this technology. In this thesis, a meaningful attempt is investigated and introduced based on GIS, in order to digitalize and protect the topographic maps (1:100,000) of Henan Province, which were taken during the ROC period.Referring to both foreign and domestic ancient literature digitalization and protection experience, ancient map analysis/adjustment and relative researches, the author of this thesis has established the research mentality for the protection & utilization of the topographic maps of Henan Province (ROC period). First, reorganize, and scan these maps. Second,digitization, joint maps and build the spatial database. Third, launch an accuracy analysis for these maps, based on GIS, then use the method of rubbutsheeting to adjust the production. In addition ,the author also design a system for maps'promulgating on web.The main progress of this research is as follows: First,generate high resolution scanning images for these contour maps taken during the ROC period, in order to protect these maps effectively. Second,vector all these topographic maps information; build a spatial data base, for deeper protection, analysis and management. Third,data quality analysis and spatial adjustment is done for these topographic maps data, and stored as well in spatial data base. Fouth,based on Web GIS technology, these topographic maps information has been distributed on web, in order to serve the contour map information web applications. The main conclusion: GIS technology plays an important positive role in protection & utilization of ancient maps. Information & data of old maps can be protected in a scientific and effective way, by digital scanning, vectoring data collection and database building. Accuracy adjustment of the ancient map data can be done quickly and correctly by spatial data interpolation. Web GIS technology can support the distribution and service of these ancient map information, which facilitates the wide spread & use of these maps. Not only the digital contour map of HeNan province obtained by GIS technology can provide data and service for related traditional historical geography research, but also some relative ideas ,methods and technology can offer reference for relative research.At the same time, from the viewpoint of the author, these maps, which were taken in early ROC period by the advanced technique from western at that time, have relatively high accuracy and scientific value. However, they still have obvious errors compared with the maps taken by modern techniques nowadays. Therefore, comparison among these ancient maps, modern maps and high resolution remote sense image can be done, in order to verify the absolute and relative errors on these maps. At the same time, based on GIS spatial adjustment technique, the accuracy of these topographic data can be effectively adjusted and improved. All of these above is able to exert the use value of old maps,and be affluent in the method of historical geography research.