Vague Spatial Data Types

Synonyms

Data types for uncertain, indeterminate, or imprecise spatial objects; Point, vague; Point, kernel; Point, conjecture; Region, conjeccture; Operation, vague spatial

Definition

Naturally occurring phenomena in space often (if not always) cannot be precisely defined because of the intrinsic uncertainty of their features. The location of animal refuges might not be precisely known, and the path of rivers might be uncertain due to water volume fluctuations and changing land characteristics. The extension of lakes can also change and thus have uncertain areas. All these are examples of vague spatial objects. The animal refuge locations can be modeled as a vague point object where the precisely known locations are called the kernel point object and the assumed locations are denoted as the conjecture point object. The river paths can be modeled as vague line objects. Some segments or parts of the path, called kernel lineobjects, can be definitely identified since they are always...