Representation and manipulation of geospatial objects with indeterminate extents

Abstract

A spatiotemporal database system manages data of geospatial objects whose geometry change over time and vagueness is their inherent nature. In this paper, we concentrate on the applications dealing with objects whose extents are indeterminate and change constantly. To support geographic information systems (GIS) in representing and handing such objects efficiently, we propose a fuzzy spatiotemporal data model called FSTDM based on fuzzy set theory. Also, we introduce algorithms for proceeding queries depending on whether the predicate is fuzzy spatial, temporal, or fuzzy spatiotemporal (FST). This work is applicable to many applications handling time-varying geospatial data, including global change (as in climate or land cover change), social (demographic, health, etc.) applications. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.