How to digitize the contour maps or 2D images in R? Is there an efficient package that digitize the images with flexible tools of assigning the number or dimensions of grids?
Watheq digitize means give numerical values to the plotted curve. I never used R but for ur better understanding, just download and demo version of digitizing software (easy job). Then take any curve/plot and scanned image of this try to read/digitize through the demo version. It is really very easy and same as BITMAP reading as mentioned above. Yes, GIS is also very helpful in this regard. Good Luck
First of all you need to converting line features to spaced point feature. This link could be useful to you - https://stat.ethz.ch/pipermail/r-sig-geo/2011-July/012179.html
Then you need to "digitize" or interpolate your points. You can use one of spatial interpolation methods (kriging, IDW, etc). You can read more about that in this link - http://www.geo.ut.ee/aasa/LOOM02331/R_idw_interpolation.html