Fuzzy spatial relationship refinements based on minimum bounding rectanglevariations

Many spatial data modeling strategies rely upon approximate representations of spatial objects both for computational efficiency issues as well as the simplification of logical modeling strategies. The most widely used approx imation is the minimum bounding rectangle (MBR). While the use of MBRs in s patial data modeling is extensive due to their efficiency for storage and r elationship calculation, their use as a solitary means of identifying, for example, topological relationships between objects is problematic due to th e inconsistency of mappings between relationships of MBRs and corresponding relationships of the objects they represent. In this paper we examine seve ral extensions to the MBR model that reduce the discrepancies between binar y spatial relationships of the MBRs and those of the contained objects. For each scheme, we consider the implications to the determination of fuzzy sp atial relationships and the impact on computational issues. (C) 2000 Publis hed by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.