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A two-phase algorithm for point-feature cartographic label placement

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Abstract

Point-feature cartographic label placement (PFCLP) involves placing labels adjacent to their corresponding point features on a map. A widely accepted goal of PFCLP is to maximize the number of conflict-free labels. This paper presents an algorithm for PFCLP based on the four-slider (4S) model. The algorithm is composed of two phases: an initialization phase during which an initial solution is constructed by an exact algorithm and a heuristic method to maximize the probability of conflict-free labels. The initialization phase is followed by an improvement phase that adopts a backtracking greedy search. The exact algorithm can find a portion of the conflict-free labels in an optimal solution and an extension of the exact algorithm is provided that can find additional conflict-free labels. Computational tests were performed for instances based on standard sets. The two-phase algorithm generated better solutions relative to all methods previously reported in the literature. It also executes at a reasonable speed and is more stable than most other methods.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Virtual Geographic Environment, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China

    Yuan Ding, Nan Jiang, Changbin Wu & Xinxin Zhou

  2. College of Geographic Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China

    Yuan Ding, Nan Jiang, Changbin Wu & Xinxin Zhou

  3. Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographic Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China

    Yuan Ding, Nan Jiang, Changbin Wu & Xinxin Zhou

Authors
  1. Yuan Ding
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  2. Nan Jiang
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  3. Changbin Wu
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  4. Xinxin Zhou
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Correspondence to Changbin Wu.

Additional information

Communicated by: H. A. Babaie

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Ding, Y., Jiang, N., Wu, C. et al. A two-phase algorithm for point-feature cartographic label placement. Earth Sci Inform 11, 183–203 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12145-017-0320-8

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