Integrative representation and inference of qualitative locations about points,lines, and polygons

Qualitative knowledge representation of spatial locations and relations is popular in many text-based media, for example, postings on social networks, news reports, and encyclopedia, as representing qualitative spatial locations is indispensable to infer spatial knowledge from them. However, an integrative model capable of handling direction-based locations of various spatial objects is missing. This study presents an integrative representation and inference framework about direction-based qualitative locations for points, lines, and polygons. In the framework, direction partitions of different types of reference objects are first unified to create a partition consisting of cells, segments, and corners. They serve as a frame of reference to locate spatial objects (e.g., points, lines, and polygons). Qualitative relations are then defined to relate spatial objects to the elements in a cell partition, and to form the model of qualitative locations. Last, based on the integrative representation, location-based reasoning mechanism is presented to derive topological relations between objects from their locations, such as point–point, line–line, point–line, point–polygon, line–polygon, and polygon–polygon relations. The presented model can locate any type of spatial objects in a frame of reference composed of points, lines, and polygons, and derive topological relations between any pairs of objects from the locations in a unified method.     

A scale-explicit model for checking directional consistency in multi-resolution spatial data

Multi-resolution spatial data always contain the inconsistencies of topological, directional, and metric relations due to measurement methods, data acquisition approaches, and map generalization algorithms. Therefore, checking these inconsistencies is critical for maintaining the integrity of multi-resolution or multi-source spatial data. To date, research has focused on the topological consistency, while the directional consistency at different resolutions has been largely overlooked. In this study we developed computation methods to derive the direction relations between coarse spatial objects from the relations between detailed objects. Then, the consistency of direction relations at different resolutions can be evaluated by checking whether the derived relations are compatible with the relations computed from the coarse objects in multi-resolution spatial data. The methods in this study modeled explicitly the scale effects of direction relations induced by the map generalization operator – merging, thus they are efficient for evaluating consistency. The directional consistency is an essential complement to topological and object-based consistencies.     

拓扑关系和方向关系的定性组合描述

空间关系理论研究是当前GIS界重点研究的前沿课题之一,但就目前研究成果看,空间关系理论中的拓扑关系和方向关系的理论研究多采用独立的描述模型,影响了空间推理和空间表达的精度。该文在分析拓扑关系和方向关系描述模型的基础上,提出将拓扑关系和方向关系定性表示相结合的TD模型,并用实例说明该模型能较全面地描述空间对象的空间关系。     

An inconsistency measure of spatial data sets with respect to topological constraints

An inconsistency measure can be used to compare the quality of different data sets and to quantify the cost of data cleaning. In traditional relational databases, inconsistency is defined in terms of constraints that use comparison operators between attributes. Inconsistency measures for traditional databases cannot be applied to spatial data sets because spatial objects are complex and the constraints are typically defined using spatial relations. This paper proposes an inconsistency measure to evaluate how dirty a spatial data set is with respect to a set of integrity constraints that define the topological relations that should hold between objects in the data set. The paper starts by reviewing different approaches to quantify the degree of inconsistency and showing that they are not suitable for the problem. Then, the inconsistency measure of a data set is defined in terms of the degree in which each spatial object in the data set violates topological constraints, and the possible representations of spatial objects are points, curves, and surfaces. Finally, an experimental evaluation demonstrates the applicability of the proposed inconsistency measure and compares it with previously existing approaches.     

地理空间意像模式的Voronoi模型

提出用Voronoi空间模型来表达意像模式，Voronoi模型无岐义空间邻近关系，构建能封装对象间空间关系的拓扑网络，使用该模型将各种空间介词映射为不同的拓扑结构，GIS采用该模型，可按自然语言中空间介词描述的定性空间关系查询检索模糊地理信息。     

空间关系的动态性和模糊性描述

完备和形式化的空间关系语义描述方法一直是GIS理论研究的重点,空间关系的动态性和模糊性决定了描述方法的复杂性。该文提出一种空间关系动态性和模糊性的描述方法,该方法顾及0维、1维、2维空间目标,在空间关系语义描述中,引入计算语言学的“施动”和“受动”概念,将语义的产生归因于“施动者”空间目标对“受动者”空间目标的作用,将空间目标间空间关系的语义空间分解为分割度、覆盖度、接近度和环绕度,并给出这些量度系数的表达方法和计算方法。其有助于空间关系语义的形式化描述。     

Modeling the scale dependences of topological relations between lines and regions induced by reduction of attributes

The scale dependences of topological relations are caused by the changes of spatial objects at different scales, which are induced by the reduction of attributes. Generally, the detailed partitions and multi-scale attributes are stored in spatial databases, while the coarse partitions are not. Consequently, the detailed topological relations can be computed and regarded as known information, while the coarse relations stay unknown. However, many applications (e.g., multi-scale spatial data query) need to deal with the topological relations at multiple scales. In this study new methods are proposed to model and derive the scale dependences of topological relations between lines and multi-scale region partitions. The scale dependences of topological relations are modeled and used to derive the relations between lines and coarse partitions from the relations about the detailed partitions. The derivation can be performed in two steps. At the first step, the topological dependences between a line and two meeting, covered and contained regions are computed and stored into composition tables, respectively. At the second step, a graph is used to represent the neighboring relations among the regions in a detailed partition. The scale dependences and detailed relations are then used to derive topological relations at the coarse level. Our methods can also be extended to handle the scale dependences of relations about disconnected regions, or the combinations of connected and disconnected regions. Because our methods use the scale dependences to derive relations at the coarse level, rather than generating coarse partition and computing the relations with geometric information, they are more efficient to support scale-dependent applications.     

KBGIS-II A knowledge-based geographical information system

Abstract

This paper describes the architecture and working of a recently implemented knowledge-based GIS (KBGIS-II) that was designed to satisfy several general criteria for GIS. The system has four major functions, query-answering, learning, editing and training. The main query finds constrained locations for spatial objects that are describable in a predicate-calculus based spatial object language. The main search procedures include a family of constraint-satisfaction procedures that use a spatial object knowledge base to search efficiently for complex spatial objects in large, multi-layered spatial data bases. These data bases are represented in quadtree form. The search strategy is designed to reduce the computational cost of search in the average case. The learning capabilities of the system include the addition of new locations of complex spatial objects to the knowledge base as queries are answered, and the ability to learn inductively definitions of new spatial objects from examples. The new definitions are added to the knowledge base by the system. The system is currently performing all its designated tasks successfully, although currently implemented on inadequate hardware.     

An event-based conceptual model for context-aware movement analysis

Current tracking technologies enable collection of data, describing movements of various kinds of objects, including people, animals, icebergs, vehicles, containers with goods and so on. Analysis of movement data is now a hot research topic. However, most of the suggested analysis methods deal with movement data alone. Little has been done to support the analysis of movement in its spatio-temporal context, which includes various spatial and temporal objects as well as diverse properties associated with spatial locations and time moments. Comprehensive analysis of movement requires detection and analysis of relations that occur between moving objects and elements of the context in the process of the movement. We suggest a conceptual model in which movement is considered as a combination of spatial events of diverse types and extents in space and time. Spatial and temporal relations occur between movement events and elements of the spatial and temporal contexts. The model gives a ground to a generic approach based on extraction of interesting events from trajectories and treating the events as independent objects. By means of a prototype implementation, we tested the approach on complex real data about movement of wild animals. The testing showed the validity of the approach.     

Development of Voronoi-based cellular automata -an integrated dynamic model for Geographical Information Systems

This paper presents a development of the extended Cellular Automata (CA), a Voronoi-based CA, to model dynamic interactions among spatial objects. Cellular automata are efficient models for representing dynamic spatial interactions. A complex global spatial pattern is generated by a set of simple local transition rules. However, its original definition for a two-dimensional array limits its application to raster spatial data only. This paper presents a newly developed Voronoi-based CA in which the CA is extended by using the Voronoi spatial model as its spatial framework. The Voronoi spatial model offers a ready solution to handling neighbourhood relations among spatial objects dynamically. By implementing this model, we have demonstrated that the Voronoi-based CA can model local interactions among spatial objects to generate complex global patterns. The Voronoi-based CA can further model interactions among point, line and polygon objects with irregular shapes and sizes in a dynamic system. Each of these objects possesses its own set of attributes, transition rules and neighbourhood relationships. The Voronoi-based CA models spatial interactions among real entities, such as shops, residential areas, industries and cities. Compared to the original CA, the Voronoi-based CA is a more natural and efficient representation of human knowledge over space.     

3D GIS空间索引技术研究

概括并分析3D GIS中使用的空间索引技术,介绍各类技术方法的基本思想;对典型的空间索引方法进行分类,综合比较其优缺点和适用对象;按照空间分割方式将三维空间索引分为规则分割和对象分割两大类,规则分割包括规则网格、BSP树、八叉树、KD树、KDB树和R树系列等,对象分割则通过层次包围体来实现。指出在3D GIS实际应用中,应根据实际情况和应用需要组合多种索引技术,进而生成灵活、高效的索引机制。     

A data model for moving regions of fixed shape in databases

Moving object databases are designed to store and process spatial and temporal object data. An especially useful moving object type is a moving region, which consists of one or more moving polygons suitable for modeling the spread of forest fires, the movement of clouds, spread of diseases and many other real-world phenomena. Previous implementations usually allow a changing shape of the region during the movement; however, the necessary restrictions on this model result in an inaccurate interpolation of rotating objects. In this paper, we present an alternative approach for moving and rotating regions of fixed shape, called Fixed Moving Regions, which provide a significantly better model for a wide range of applications like modeling the movement of oil tankers, icebergs and other rigid structures. Furthermore, we describe and implement several useful operations on this new object type to enable a database system to solve many real-world problems, as for example collision tests, projections and intersections, much more accurate than with other models. Based on this research, we also implemented a library for easy integration into moving objects database systems, as for example the DBMS Secondo (1) (2) developed at the FernUniversität in Hagen.     

基于道路网络的商业网点市场域分析

社会经济活动中人们的空间行为往往是基于道路网络来实现的。但是,目前多数研究都假设地理空间是一个均质空间,采用基于平面欧氏距离的空间分析方法,这是有局限的。本文阐述了基于网络距离的网络Voronoi图基本概念和实现方法,以武汉市商业零售连锁企业为例,分别采用基于欧氏距离的普通Voronoi图方法和基于网络距离的网络Voronoi图方法来确定商业零售网点的市场域,结果表明武汉市主城区商业网点市场域较小、主城区外围市场域较大。市场域大小与城市路网密度呈现一定相关关系,路网密度高、市场域小,路网密度低、市场域大。两种方法的计算结果存在一定差异,差异大小与路网密度有关,路网密度大、差异小,路网密度小、差异大。这表明在路网密度大的情况下,可以采用普通Voronoi图粗略地模拟商业网点的市场域。     

Algebraic approach to spatial reasoning

Abstract

A simple, exemplary system is described that performs reasoning about the spatial relationships between members of a set of spatial objects. The main problem of interest is to make sound and complete inferences about the set of all spatial relationships that hold between the objects, given prior information about a subset of the relationships. The spatial inferences are formalized within the framework of relation algebra and procedurally implemented in terms of constraint satisfaction procedures. Although the approach is general, the particular example employs a new ‘complete’ set of topological relationships that have been published elsewhere. In particular, a relation algebra for these topological relations is developed and a computational implementation of this algebra is described. Systems with such reasoning capabilities have many applications in geographical analysis and could be usefully incorporated into geographical information systems and related systems.     

区域旅游中城市与景区空间匹配关系及其优化

指出城市和景区是区域旅游空间结构的两个基本要素,也是区域旅游网络化的重要节点,城市与景区之间的空间匹配关系主要有数量匹配、等级匹配、距离匹配、管理匹配等,而且在不同的旅游区域和旅游发展的不同阶段,其空间匹配关系不同,应采取相应的优化措施。     

Qualitative spatial reasoning: cardinal directions as an example

ABSTRACT

Abstract. Geographers use spatial reasoning extensively in large-scale spaces, i.e., spaces that cannot be seen or understood from a single point of view. Spatial reasoning differentiates several spatial relations, e.g. topological or metric relations, and is typically formalized using a Cartesian coordinate system and vector algebra. This quantitative processing of information is clearly different from the ways human draw conclusions about spatial relations. Formalized qualitative reasoning processes are shown to be a necessary part of Spatial Expert Systems and Geographical Information Systems.

Addressing a subset of the total problem, namely reasoning with cardinal directions, a completely qualitative method, without recourse to analytical procedures, is introduced and a method for its formal comparison with quantitative formula is defined. The focus is on the analysis of cardinal directions and their properties. An algebraic method is used to formalize the meaning of directions. The standard directional symbols (N, W, etc.) are supplemented with a symbol corresponding to an undetermined direction between points too close to each other which greatly increases the power of the inference rules. Two specific systems to determine and reason with cardinal directions are discussed in some detail.

From this example and some other previous work, a comprehensive set of research steps is laid out, following a mathematically based taxonomy. It includes the extension of distance and direction reasoning to extended objects and the definitions of other metric relations that characterize situations when objects are not disjointed. The conclusions compare such an approach with other concepts.     

新零售背景下连锁店区位选择及其空间关联特征

零售活动的空间关系研究是城市地理学研究的一个热点问题.以上海市内环地区的星巴克、COSTA和瑞幸咖啡三家咖啡连锁公司的门店为研究对象,综合运用多种空间统计方法和实地调研分析三者之间的空间关联特征.结果表明:1)无论是传统零售还是新零售模式下的咖啡门店,其空间分布均大致表现出靠近消费市场的空间导向特征;2)星巴克门店的空...     

基于球面剖分格网的矢量数据组织模型研究

针对球面剖分格网系统的优势和目前矢量数据存储方式存在的缺陷,提出基于球面剖分格网系统的矢量数据组织模型,以期更有效地存储和管理大范围多模式的矢量数据.主要讨论了矢量对象在不同格网层次下的剖分组织方法及其重构表达问题,并创新性地提出了球面矢量交换文件格式(SVE).同时,基于球面剖分格网系统设计了矢量数据的空间拓扑关系构建模式及多层次表达方式,为球面的矢量对象空间分析奠定了理论基础.