Spatial relation resolution and spatial relation abstraction

This paper attempts to regard spatial relation transformation as an important process in map generalization. The spatial relation generalization can be divided into the components of abstraction: topology, disttance and orientation. The concept ‘spatial relation resolution’ is introduced to describe the constraints of relative spatial relation. On the basis of nine intersection models, the cardinal direction models and the iso-distance-relation models, this paper gives three sorts of relation resolution representations for topological, distance and orientation relation, respectively. Two mapping implementations in map generalization is discussed.