A Topology Preserving Gridding Method for Vector Features in Discrete Global Grid Systems

Liangchen Zhou,Yudi Zhang,Bingxian Lin,Wenjie Lian

doi:10.3390/ijgi9030168

Liangchen Zhou, Yudi Zhang + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi9030168

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Abstract

Topological distortion seriously affects spatial cognition. To solve this problem caused by the integration of vector features in discrete global grid systems (DGGs), a topology-preserving gridding method for vector features is proposed. The method proposed determines the topological distortion according to the relationship between grid cells and then increases the local resolution of vector features by employing the multi-level resolution characteristic of DGGs, to repair three kinds of topological distortions. Experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively maintain the topological relationship between the original vector features, and the amount of data is stable, thus ensuring the correct integration of vector features in the DGGs.

Highlights

A discrete global grid system (DGG) divides the earth’s surface into seamless and nonoverlapping multi-level regional unit sets, which are used to fit the earth’s surface [1,2,3] at different resolutions and can standardize the integration and analysis of massive spatial data [4] at any resolution
This paper describes a topological distortion detection method according to the grid cell relationship in the grid system and a method to repair the topological distortion by employing the multi-level resolution characteristics, which is the innovation of the topology-preserving gridding method for vector features
In view of the change of topological relationships of vector features during the integration of DGGs, this paper proposes a topology-preserving gridding method for vector features in DGGs

Summary

Introduction

A discrete global grid system (DGG) divides the earth’s surface into seamless and nonoverlapping multi-level regional unit sets, which are used to fit the earth’s surface [1,2,3] at different resolutions and can standardize the integration and analysis of massive spatial data [4] at any resolution. Because of the difference of the data model itself, the gridding of vector features is inherently a lossy process, which leads to distortion of geometric properties and topological relations [10]. Scholars usually focus on the preservation of geometric properties such as angle, length, and area in vector feature integration [11] but ignore the preservation of topological relations. A topology-preserving gridding method for vector features in DGGs is proposed. TBoapsoilcoIgdiceaal relationships can be identified, the local resolution can be improved by employing the multi-resolution characteristic of the DGGs, and topological distortion can be repaired without introducingDnieswcregteogmloebtrailcaglriddesfo(DrmGaGtiso)na.re a typical multi-resolution grid system.

Topological Distortion Classification

Polygon Disappearance

Gridding of Polyline Features

Comparison with the Global Method

Extensibility

Conclusion