An Algorithm for Geo-Spatial Objects Adjustment

Abstract

GIS practitioners always integrate geo-spatial data from different sources using map-overlay operations in order to make decisions and solve queries that deal with multiple layers. But they are always faced with openings and overlaps among objects that form features in thematically same datasets resulting into slivers (unwanted small objects) and danglings (unwanted intersections, polylines, and end points). Most GIS users end up running clean and build algorithms that just remove unwanted objects but not achieving perfect merging originally intended with main reason being lack of geometrical object based algorithm that can be used to update and adjust spatial objects to eliminate discrepancies caused by geometry differences between features of thematically similar data. We present an algorithm for manipulating geometries of geospatial objects that make up datasets basing on spatial points as the simplest geometrical primitive. Our approach makes it possible to represent high level spatial geometrical shapes using points and allows for more comprehensive handling of all shapes still maintaining the simplicity of working with the point primitive. Representation of spatial geometry shapes comprising of spatial points, polylines, and polygons using spatial point primitive geometry is achieved by scanning all the spatial dataset, observing the different geometry shapes and topology that exist, then representation all shapes using points and primary attribute in form of text. The algorithm carries out shape transformation of objects so that all openings and overlaps between objects making up dataset are eliminated so that geo-processing, modeling, and analysis utilize the properly integrated datasets. The algorithm can be applied in spatial data management like geometrical alignment and sharing environments like spatial data infrastructure.