Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Topological querying of multiple map layers

  • Query Languages
  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Spatial Information Theory A Theoretical Basis for GIS (COSIT 1993)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 716))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

This paper first recaptures why multiple map layers are required in Geographic Information Systems. The two main motivations are: flexibility in data modeling, and efficient processing of data. In order to make the map layer discussions clearer, we introduce two different types of map layers: a structure layer, and a thematic layer. Though the concept of a structure layer is defined in a general sense, to illustrate its practicability the organization of data in a structure layer is initially represented according to the formal data structure for single-valued vector maps as proposed by Molenaar. In order to develop a data model for a multi-layered system, the concept of structure layers, specified for the fds, is extended for multi-valued vector maps. It turns out that the data can be modeled in various ways. After that the topic of topological querying of multiple map layers is introduced with a few examples. Map overlay plays a central role in this process. But map overlay is a computationally expensive operation, and therefore several alternative optimization techniques are described for answering the queries efficiently. An important goal of the described multiple map layer query language is that it is a realistic approach. That is, the resulting implementation can be used in an interactive environment with real data sets: with at least several megabytes of geographic data. This is reflected by the case study presented in this paper.

Employed by Siemens Nixdorf Informationsystems, Munich, Germany

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Vermessungsverwaltungen der Länder der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (AdV). Amtliches Topographic-Kartographisches Informationssystem (ATKIS), 1988. (in German).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Stan Aronoff. Geographic Information Systems: A Management Perspective. WDL Publications, Ottawa, Canada, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  3. K. Bennis, B. David, I. Morize-Quilio, J.M. Thévenin, and Y. Viémont. GéoGraph: A topological storage model for extensible GIS. In Auto-Carto 10, Baltimore, pages 349–367, March 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  4. K. Bennis, B. David, I. Quilio, and Y. Viémont. GéoTropics database support alternatives for geographic applications. In 4th International Symposium on Spatial Data Handling, Zürich, Switzerland, pages 599–610, July 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Nicholas R. Chrisman. Epsilon filtering — a technique for automated scale changing. In Technical Papers of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, pages 322–331, March 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ian K. Crain. Extremely Large Spatial Information Systems a Quantitative Perspective. In 4th International Symposium on Spatial Data Handling, Zürich, Switzerland, pages 632–641, July 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Benoît David. Personnel communication through email on the topic: Map layers, June 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Benoît David and Yann Viemont. Data structure alternatives for very large spatial databases. Technical Report ?, Institut Géographique National — France, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Sylvia de Hoop and Peter van Oosterom. The storage and manipulation of topology in Postgres. In EGIS'92, Munich, Germany, pages 1324–1336, March 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  10. DGIWG. DIGEST — digital geographic information — exchange standards — edition 1.1. Technical report, Defence Mapping Agency, USA, Digital Geographic Information Working Group, October 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Claus Dorenbeck and Max J. Egenhofer. Algebraic optimization of combined overlay operations. In Auto-Carto 10, Baltimore, pages 296–312, March 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  12. James Dougenik. Whirlpool: A geometric processor for polygon coverage data. In Robert T. Aagenburg, editor, Auto-Carto IV, Volume II, November 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Andrew U. Frank. Overlay processing in spatial information systems. In Auto-Carto 8, pages 16–31, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Wm. Randolph Franklin and Peter Y.F. Wu. A polygon overlay system in PRO-LOG. In Auto-Carto 8, pages 97–106, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Stephen C. Guptill and Robin G. Fegeas. Feature based spatial data models — The choice for global databases in the 1990's. In Helen Mounsey and Roger Tomlinson, editors, Building Databases for Global Science, pages 279–295. Taylor & Francis, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hans-Peter Kriegel, Thomas Brinkhoff, and Ralf Schneider. The combination of spatial access methods and computational geometry in geographic database systems. In Advances in Spatial Databases, 2nd Symposium, SSD'91, Zürich, Switzerland, pages 3–21, August 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Werner Kuhn. Are Displays Maps or Views? In Auto-Carto 10, Baltimore, pages 261–274, March 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Martien Molenaar. Single valued vector maps — A concept in Geographic Information Systems. Geo-Informationssysteme, 2(1):18–26, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Martien Molenaar. Informatie theoretische aspecten van GIS. In Vastgoedinformatie in de jaren negentig, pages 67–80, June 1990. (in Dutch).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Martien Molenaar. Object-hierarchies. Why is data standardisation so difficult? In Kockelhoren et al., editor, Kadaster in Perspectief, pages 73–86. Dienst van het Kadaster en de Openbare Registers, Apeldoorn, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Donna J. Peuquet. A conceptual framework and comparison of spatial data models. Cartographica, 21(4):66–113, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Simon Pigot. Topological Models for 3D Spatial Information Systems. In Auto-Carto 10, Baltimore, pages 368–392, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Michael Stonebraker, Lawrence A. Rowe, and Michael Hirohama. The implementation of Postgres. IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering, 2(1):125–142, March 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Jan W. van Roessel. Attribute propagation and line segment classification in planesweep overlay. In 4th International Symposium on Spatial Data Handling, Zürich, pages 127–140, Columbus, OH, July 1990. International Geographical Union IGU.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Guangyu Zhang and John Tulip. An algorithm for the avoidance of sliver polygons and clusters of points in spatial overlays. In 4th International Symposium on Spatial Data Handling, Zürich, Switzerland, pages 141–150, July 1990.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Geographic Information Processing, Wageningen Agricultural University, P.O. Box 339, 6700, AH Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Sylvia de Hoop & Martien Molenaar

  2. TNO Physics and Electronics Laboratory, P.O. Box 96864, 2509, JG The Hague, The Netherlands

    Peter van Oosterom

Authors
  1. Sylvia de Hoop
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter van Oosterom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Martien Molenaar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Andrew U. Frank Irene Campari

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1993 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

de Hoop, S., van Oosterom, P., Molenaar, M. (1993). Topological querying of multiple map layers. In: Frank, A.U., Campari, I. (eds) Spatial Information Theory A Theoretical Basis for GIS. COSIT 1993. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 716. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-57207-4_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-57207-4_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-57207-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-47966-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation