DIGITAL IMAGES IN THE MAP REVISION PROCESS

Progress towards the adoption of digital (or softcopy) photogrammetric techniques for database and map revision is reviewed. Particular atte ntion is given to the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain, the author's f ormer employer, where digital processes are under investigation but ha ve not yet been introduced for routine production. Developments which may lead to increasing automation of database update processes appear promising, but because of the cost and practical problems associated w ith managing as well as updating large digital databases, caution is a dvised when considering the transition to softcopy photogrammetry for revision tasks.