[GRASS-user] Averaging multiple vector lines

[Dwight Needels]

I have a GRASS vector that originated as multiple GPS tracks from  
walking a particular trail segment on several different days. Is there  
a good way to average these lines to get a single line? I want to  
minimize GPS accuracy errors by averaging across multiple days and  
also minimize precision errors (random jumping around on a single day)  
while still maintaining the shape of the trail with all of its twists  
and turns.

I have been able to generate a composite vector by using a combination  
of v.to.rast, r.grow, r.thin, r.to.vect, v.clean, and v.generalize  
method=douglas. This method works pretty well when the lines remain  
close together, but it is very dependent on picking a value for the  
r.grow radius that fills in all of the gaps between the multiple  
tracks. If one track is quite different than the others in even a  
single region of the vector, this requires a relatively large radius  
value. Moreover, the final vector is located about midway between the  
two extremes rather than being weighted toward where the majority of  
tracks fall.

It seems like there would be a way to calculate some sort of sliding  
average of the coordinates that fall within a certain size window,  
perhaps after using v.to.points with a small dmax (5 ft?) to generate  
a fairly dense set of points. Ideally, the calculation window could be  
wider perpendicular to the direction of the line than it is along the  
direction of the line. From day to day tracks are often within 10 to  
20 ft of each other, but it is not uncommon for two tracks to be 30 ft  
away from each other at some points.

Any ideas?

-Thanks, -Dwight