Connection errors in networks of linear features and the application of geometrical reduction in spatial data algorithms

Abstract

We present a study on connection errors in networks of linear features and methods of error detection. Connection errors occur in network datasets when the network elements are not connected according to specifications. We model networks with special connection specifications as networks with hierarchically connected features and define errors considering the spatial relationships and the functionality of the network elements. For the description of the necessary spatial relationships a spatial object model and an intersection model are proposed. A general definition of the problem of the detection of connection errors which takes into account the functionality of the network elements is discussed. Then a series of spatial algorithms that solve different aspects of the problem is presented. We also define and analyze the notion of geometrical reduction. The algorithms that we present use geometrical reduction so as to achieve efficient performance.