3 - Spatial data modelling: topology

The student is able to describe and explain the concept of topology (level 1 and 2).

Concepts

  • Topological Relationship

    We can use the topological properties of interiors and boundaries to define relationships between spatial features. Since the properties of interiors and boundaries do not change under topological mapping, we can investigate their possible relations between spatial features. We can define the interior of a region, R, as the largest set of points of R for which we can construct a disc-like environment around it (no matter how small) that also falls completely inside R. The boundary of R is the set of those points belonging to R that do not belong to the interior of R, i.e. one cannot construct a disc-like environment around such points that still belongs to R completely.

  • Topology

    Topology refers to the spatial relationships between geographic elements in a data set that do not change under a continuous transformation. This is defined by topological relationships.