Scanning

Scanning is used to convert an analog map into a scanned file, which is again converted to vector format through tracing. The scanner provides a much quicker alternative to manual digitizer, used for digitization of existing maps. It can convert an analog map into scanned image file in raster format.

The scanned file shows map features as raster lines (a series of connected pixels). A scanned file must be vectorized to complete the process of digitizing. Vectorization is converting raster lines into vector lines in a process known as tracing.