Quantifying spatial similarity for use as constraints in map generalisation

ABSTRACT

Quantitatively expressing spatial similarity is a prerequisite of using it as constraints in map generalization; nevertheless, it has not yet been well solved. To fill the gap, this study firstly proposes the methods for calculating spatial similarity degree between an individual object (or an object group) at a larger scale and its generalized counterpart at a smaller scale, and forms formulae for calculating spatial similarity degree using change of map scale and vice versa. Based on the quantification methods of spatial similarity, potential use of spatial similarity as constraints in map generalization are given.

KEYWORDS:

• Spatial similarity
• constraints
• map generalisation
• spatial similarity degrees
• change of map scale

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Data availability statement

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/14498596.2022.2154713.

Additional information

Funding

This work is funded by the National Natural Science Foundation Committee of China (Project No. 41930101 and 42161066).