On the problem of placing names on a map

Probably the most difficult task of producing a map is that of placing the text for the point, line and area features that one expects to see depicted on a geographic map. This paper describes the problem, its subtleties, and challenges, and outlines a computerized approach to solving it. With the newly developed methods, it is now possible to produce fully labeled maps and charts with a quality that approaches that achievable only by an expert cartographer and to do so in tiny fraction of the time required when done manually.