A Spatial Access-Oriented Implementation of a 3-D GIS Topological Data Model for Urban Entities

• Published in: GeoInformatica Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 237 - 264
• Main Author: Lee, Jiyeong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.09.2004; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algorithms; Areal geology. Maps; Built environment; Combinatorial analysis; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Geologic maps, cartography; Graphs; Handling; Materials handling; Networks; Queries; Spatial analysis; Studies; Transformations; Urban environments; United States; Ohio; USA, Ohio; spatial access; topollgical data model; algorithms; models; maps; urban environment; polygons; topology; geographic information systems; cartography; urban areas; North America; geometric networks; 3-D GIS; dual graph; medial axis; three-dimensional models; transformations; geometry; spatial variations
• ISSN: 1384-6175; 1573-7624
• DOI: 10.1023/B:GEIN.0000034820.93914.d0

3-D analysis in GIS is still one of the most challenging topics for research. With the goal being to model possible movement within the built environment, this paper, therefore, proposes a new approach to handling connectivity relationships among 3-D objects in urban environments in order to implement spatial access analyses in 3-D space. To achieve this goal, this paper introduces a 3-D network data model called the geometric network model (GNM), which has been developed by transforming the combinatorial data model (CDM), representing a connectivity relationship among 3-D objects using a dual graph. For the transformation, this paper presents (1) an O(n super(2)) algorithm for computing a straight medial axis transformation (MAT), (2) the processes for transforming phenomena from 3-D CDM to 3-D GNM, and (3) spatial access algorithms for the 3-D geometric network based upon the Dijkstra algorithm. Using the reconstructed geometric network generated from the transformations, spatial queries based upon the complex connectivity relationships between 3-D urban entities are implemented using Dijkstra algorithm. Finally, the paper presents the results of an experimental implementation of a 3-D network data model (GNM) using GIS data of an area in downtown Columbus, Ohio.