Map recognition for automatic information generation in an AM/FM system

Presents the use of an image recognition technique within an AM/FM system for automatic map reading to provide information for distribution system design in a new residential neighbourhood and for AM/FM system database updating. The author describes how an architect's map of a new neighbourhood can be understood and used to give an electrical equivalent indicating the position and magnitude of the electrical load centres, and he describes how the types of premises on maps can be correctly classified using a counter-propagation neural network. The above results of automatic map reading can be output directly to the AM/FM system with information regarding the equipment and the electrical network to be used in the new neighbourhood.