Noninteractive Automated Names Placement for the 1990 Decennial Census

The mapping software for the 1990 decennial census makes use of procedural algorithms for the automated placement of text. These algorithms are constrained in practice by the Census Bureau's unusual problem of having to produce large-scale maps with a large number of text elements on a nationwide basis. The ideas of previous researchers were implemented in the current algorithms; however, implementation was restricted by the pressing deadlines of map production and the limits of computer processing time. No interactive placement of text is allowed. Cartographic conventions on text placement serve as guidelines for the automated placement of names. The result is an effective names-placement system that is capable of positioning text for point, linear, and areal features and resolving text placement conflict without the need for human intervention.