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A SegNet-Based Approach for Road Label Placement Integrating Geometric and Textual Information

Yu, Huafei ; Ai, Tingua ; Yang, Min ; Oucheikh, Rachid LU ; Kong, Bo ; Wu, Hao ; Zhang, Zhenyu and Harrie, Lars LU orcid (2025) In Transactions in GIS 29(4).
Abstract
As a crucial tool for enhancing the readability and comprehensibility of geoinformation, automated label placement in mapping applications remains a significant challenge, particularly when generalizing the label placement process for high-density maps, despite the availability of tools such as QGIS-PAL and ArcGIS-Maplex label engine. This study focuses on utilizing deep learning (DL) for road labeling tasks and addresses two key questions: Can DL models predict the quantity and shape of road labels? Can they determine the label positions? Our proposed SegNet-based model employed “where” and “what” modules, integrating geometric contextual information with textual data as inputs. We validated the model using London, UK wayfinding map data,... (More)
As a crucial tool for enhancing the readability and comprehensibility of geoinformation, automated label placement in mapping applications remains a significant challenge, particularly when generalizing the label placement process for high-density maps, despite the availability of tools such as QGIS-PAL and ArcGIS-Maplex label engine. This study focuses on utilizing deep learning (DL) for road labeling tasks and addresses two key questions: Can DL models predict the quantity and shape of road labels? Can they determine the label positions? Our proposed SegNet-based model employed “where” and “what” modules, integrating geometric contextual information with textual data as inputs. We validated the model using London, UK wayfinding map data, demonstrating improved readability and achieving comparable machine learning evaluation metrics to mainstream labeling tools. Notably, our method accurately predicted label placements for roads and ensured consistent label sizes. This study provides valuable insights and recommendations for leveraging DL techniques to alleviate labor-intensive challenges of map labeling. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Transactions in GIS
volume
29
issue
4
article number
e70080
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:105008867690
ISSN
1467-9671
DOI
10.1111/tgis.70080
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
bca2a6b0-3bef-4cc7-bca8-2e9bd0cdf375
date added to LUP
2025-12-02 09:53:59
date last changed
2025-12-03 04:01:46
@article{bca2a6b0-3bef-4cc7-bca8-2e9bd0cdf375,
  abstract     = {{As a crucial tool for enhancing the readability and comprehensibility of geoinformation, automated label placement in mapping applications remains a significant challenge, particularly when generalizing the label placement process for high-density maps, despite the availability of tools such as QGIS-PAL and ArcGIS-Maplex label engine. This study focuses on utilizing deep learning (DL) for road labeling tasks and addresses two key questions: Can DL models predict the quantity and shape of road labels? Can they determine the label positions? Our proposed SegNet-based model employed “where” and “what” modules, integrating geometric contextual information with textual data as inputs. We validated the model using London, UK wayfinding map data, demonstrating improved readability and achieving comparable machine learning evaluation metrics to mainstream labeling tools. Notably, our method accurately predicted label placements for roads and ensured consistent label sizes. This study provides valuable insights and recommendations for leveraging DL techniques to alleviate labor-intensive challenges of map labeling.}},
  author       = {{Yu, Huafei and Ai, Tingua and Yang, Min and Oucheikh, Rachid and Kong, Bo and Wu, Hao and Zhang, Zhenyu and Harrie, Lars}},
  issn         = {{1467-9671}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{4}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Transactions in GIS}},
  title        = {{A SegNet-Based Approach for Road Label Placement Integrating Geometric and Textual Information}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tgis.70080}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/tgis.70080}},
  volume       = {{29}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}