Geographic data visualization using wavelet based unsharp masking

Geographic data visualization is concerned with displaying quantitative information on a map which combines both abstract and physical data. Geographic maps are constructed based on reference parameters. These resultant maps with graphical information are data driven, but can be considered as static images and can be enhanced for better visual quality. These images need to be sharpened to bring out their acute differences so as to enhance better display of information and increase the accuracy. This paper is aimed at enhancing the geographic data visualization images using wavelet based unsharp masking (WUM) algorithm. The noise information is obtained as a resultant from edge detection based on Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). WUM is used to sharpen the DWT image. Algorithm used and the experimental results for various levels of sharpening per geographical image is explained and illustrated.