Intuitive modelling of place name regions for spatial information retrieval

Abstract

Reasoning about spatial relevance is important for intelligent spatial information retrieval. In heterogeneous and distributed systems like the Semantic Web, spatial reasoning has to be based on light-weight, interoperable and easy-to-use spatial metadata. In this paper we present an approach to an intuitive and user-friendly creation and application of spatial metadata that are used for spatial relevance reasoning. The metadata are based on discrete approximations of place name regions. Based on knowledge about cognitive aspects of preferred spatial models, our approach allows for the representation and intuitive modelling of indeterminate regions in addition to regions with well-known boundaries. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.