Automatic vectorization of fluvial corridor features on historical maps to assess riverscape changes

ABSTRACT The vectorization of historical maps is an important scientific issue for understanding the dynamics of change recorded by territories. Historical maps are potentially an excellent source of data for characterizing river changes at large scales. The use of vectorized data is essential for such characterization, as well as for highlighting changes in the planform alignment of such reaches over time. At a regional network scale of several thousand kilometers of river, such work requires the vectorization of several hundred or even thousands of maps. This work proposes an automated vectorization procedure for the hydrographic network detailed in the cartographic resources of the IGN (the French National Mapping Agency). The ultimate goal is to use these historical maps to track the planform evolution of the elementary landscape units (water, bare banks, and riparian vegetation) that constitute river corridors at the basin network scale. The Historical Maps Vectorization Toolbox was developed to automatically vectorize river corridor objects (sediment banks, water surfaces, and vegetation polygons) with a high level of accuracy. The toolbox works with a 2-step process: first it classifies the colors detected on the map, then it reconstructs the objects of the fluvial corridor. We also demonstrate a practical use of the toolbox through measuring changes in the surface area of river networks of several hundred kilometers.