A hierarchical approach to the line-line topological relations

Abstract

Topological relations have been recognized to be very useful for spatial query, analysis and reasoning. This paper concentrates on the topological relations between two lines in IR2. The line of thought employed in this study is that the topological relation between two lines can be described by a combination of finite number of basic (or elementary) relations. Based on this idea, a hierarchical approach is proposed for the description and determination of basic relations between two lines. Seventeen (17) basic relations are identified and eleven (11) of them form the basis for combinational description of a complex relation, which can be determined by a compound relation model. A practical example of bus routes is provided for illustration of the approach proposed in this paper, which is an application of the line-line topological relations in traffic planning. © 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.