Symbol recognition and automatic conversion in GIS vector maps

Symbols are considered as the language of a map;hence,accurate understanding of the meaning of symbols is crucial when obtaining geographical information from a map： the symbolisation of spatial data is of key importance in cartography.A geographical information system（GIS） provides a convenient mapping platform and powerful functions for spatial data symbolisation,while the presence of various mapping standards impedes the understanding of maps and sharing of map information.On the other hand,the available GIS platforms find it difficult to deal with automatic conversion between maps and different mapping standards.To resolve this problem,an approach for symbol recognition and automatic conversion is proposed,and a conversion system based on the approach and the Arc GIS Engine platform is developed to realise automatic conversion between maps produced based on different mapping standards.To test these conversion effects of the proposed system,the petroleum sector is chosen as the research field and the mutual conversion of a map in practical work among the three mapping standards（i.e.the Chinese Petroleum,Shell and USGS standards） governing this field is taken as a casestudy.The results show that the conversion system has a high conversion accuracy and strong applicability.

Localism, Globalism and Capitalism:The Evolution of the Practice of Chinese Buddhism in Singapore

This paper seeks to present with statistical tables the history of Chinese Buddhism in Singapore during the past 120 years. Employing the methodology of religious anthropology and religious sociology, this history is traced in the context of the colonial rule, independence, and modern administration of Singapore. The early transmission of Chinese Buddhism to Singapore was a symbol of civilization and power, which was closely associated with immigrant societies and association power structure. Around the Second World War, following the propagation of Humanistic Buddhism(Buddhism in human life, renjian fojiao 人间佛教) in Singapore, its characteristics including elite feature and transcendence were culturally acknowledged by mainstream society. Meanwhile, during the 1940s, that laywomen built Buddhist temples appeared as a prominent phenomenon. As Chinese Buddhism from Chinese mainland ceased to spread to Singapore, Chinese Buddhism, as a local religion, has been completely embedded in the capitalist institutions, and thus the modernity of Humanistic Buddhism and capitalism reach coincidence in the context. Against the background of Humanistic Buddhism, after the 1960s, Chinese Buddhism has made more achievements in education, culture, charity, and organizations, showing a combination of gender awareness, elite feature, and social actions. The practice of Chinese Buddhism in Singapore for the 120 years is a story in which Chinese Buddhism has gradually got rid of the localism of an agricultural civilization while returning to the globalism of modern civilization. Its experiences aptly demonstrate the struggles and inner motives for modernization of Chinese Buddhism.