SPATIAL THEMATIC OBSERVATION MODELING PROCESS GIS SOFTWARE

STOMP GIS Software

The Spatial Thematic Observation Modeling Process (STOMP) explores and measures terrain feature relationships by intelligently conflating Geographic Information System (GIS) coverages of thematic categorical data. These STOMP tools macroscopically quantify and visualize relationships between polygons, centerlines, and sample-points by measuring appropriate spatial coincidence to find likelihoods for combinations of specified feature events. It uses ArcInfo GIS Software to directly measure these spatial relationships between thematic feature events within their combined coverage. The STOMP can compare separate Grids of categorical thematic data with different spatial resolutions by changing each of them to a coverage of polygons beforehand. The STOMP tools extend advanced spatial-statistics methods into comparing polygon, centerline, and sample-point feature vector coverages to compliment advanced analysis of distributed sample-points within current products like the new Esri GeoStatistical Analyst.

The available free STOMP Software is exclusively Arc Macro Language (AML) code that works on any computer platform when running version 7.x (or later) of ArcInfo. The software code is encrypted but maintained by us. Future releases of more stable STOMP Software may include the readable unencrypted code, but we cannot maintain such software if the user modifies its code. The STOMP Software is available by email request, but unavailable by FTP download, to keep track of its users. Those previously requesting and receiving the software get regularly updated versions sent by email. You can visit the STOMP website to see its recent information.

The STOMP has a graphical user interface to pick unique pairs of spatially coincident feature events between two different sets of attribute values from the same or separate coverages, and to run the software showing the spatial relationships between these sets of values for chosen attributes. The software forms a matrix that measures the overall spatial proportions of every coincidental pair for feature events between both sets of attribute values from within the combined coverages. This finds and shows the raw data necessary for insights into thematic feature relationships. Its interactive browser shows the measured concurrent and conditional likelihoods for all particular pairs of feature events between each chosen set of attribute values. It allows spatial display, optionally onto a panchromatic imagery backdrop, of polygonal feature event pairs between both sets of attribute values. The formed matrix is a text file with spaces separating its fields. You can load this matrix into a spreadsheet for further analysis of STOMP results.

The Combined Terrain and Spectral Reasoning Methods report describes the STOMP methods. We currently are exploring usage of the STOMP as a tool to constrain spectral feature extraction within rapid imagery-based mapping programs. Its usage there could help with feature labeling after unsupervised spectral feature extraction, generating terrain rules for resolving spectral confusion before or after feature extraction, and preventing confusion by finding appropriate terrain representations as extra imagery bands to merge with the spectral data during automatic feature extraction. The STOMP Software might be a useful tool for terrain inference or predictive modeling. You can use the software to resolve differences between separately compiled themes of GIS data or develop rules that explain relationships between their thematic feature events.

Please contact Mr. Roger O. Brown at 1-703-428-6519 or RBrown@tec.army.mil for more information about the Spatial Thematic Observation Modeling Process GIS Software.