TOWARDS AN INTEGRAL STRATEGY FOR MODELLING UNCERTAIN GEOSPATIAL DATA

This paper endeavours to put the discussion on errors and uncertainties in geographical information systems (GISs) in a more systematic way by examining the strength and weakness of discrete objects and continuous fields, the two distinct schools of spatial data modelling. In doing so, it argues that neither discrete objects nor continuous fields alone provide objective and complete representations of highly complex geographical phenomena, though there are good reasons for asserting that continuous fields are better suited to modelling spatial dependence, heterogeneity and fuzziness significant in geographical reality than discrete objects. Thus, there seems to be merit in adopting an integrated model incorporating analytical capabilities of fields and generalization functions of objects, for which extended TIN(triangulated irregular network) models along with their duals (Voronoi diagrams) provide a pragmatical solution.

This paper endeavours to put the discussion on errors and uncertainties in geographical information systems (GISs) in a more systematic way by examining the strength and weakness of discrete objects and continous fields, the two distinct schools of spatial data modelling. In doing so, it argues that neither discrete objects nor continous fields alone provide objective and complete representations of highly complex geographical phenomena, though there are good reasons for asserting that continuous fields are better suited to modelling spatial dependence, heterogeneity and fuzzines significant in geographical reality than discrete objects. Thus, there seems to be merit in adopting an integrated model incorporating analytical capabilities of fields and generalization functions of objects, for which extended TIN (triangulated irregular network) models along with their duals (Voronoi diagrams) provide a pragmatical solution.