THE UTILITY OF PROVIDING DIGITAL PICTURES WITH PRECISION DIGITAL MAPS

Etak, Inc. has investigated the utility of augmenting its digital maps with digital images (pictures). The investigation has shown that the technology is now at hand to provide a substantial digital image database on a small computer that can be accessed using a precision digital map. With the digital image database tied to a precision digital map, a platform could be provided which would support a variety of applications: route descriptions, destination descriptions, real estate presentations, inventory maintenance, tour guides, military operations, surveying, etc. This investigation shows that in the critical areas of system capacity, image storage, and image acquisition, there are low-cost, easily available components.