Geospatial Partitioning Using Concave Hull Boundaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing partition schemes for large geospatial datasets often generate irregular or oversized partition polygons due to non-intersecting linear features, leading to inefficient processing, especially when natural boundaries like coastlines are used, resulting in complicated deduplication and merge procedures.
Innovation Solution
Generating a concave hull from the reference network and spatial data objects to create partition polygons, where the boundary intersects with more linear features, ensuring smaller and more compact partitions that are easier to process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If natural boundaries like coastlines are used to form partition boundaries, then the partition scheme covers the complete geographic area, but the partition polygons become irregular or oversized and difficult to process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the geographic area into multiple partition polygons by introducing linear features (roads, rivers, coastlines) as dividing elements. These linear features cut through the natural boundary geometry to create smaller, more manageable partition units that are easier to process while still covering the complete geographic area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different boundary definitions to different regions: natural boundaries (coastlines) are used where they provide good coverage, while linear features (roads, rivers) are introduced in specific local areas to subdivide oversized partitions. This creates locally optimized partition shapes that balance complete area coverage with processing efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If linear features are used to divide the bounding geometry into multiple partitions, then the partition polygons are easier to process, but the linear features do not intersect with the boundary, resulting in thin and long or circular partition shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent intentionally creates asymmetric partition shapes by allowing linear features to intersect the natural boundary at various angles and positions. Rather than forcing symmetric or regular shapes, the method accepts irregular polygons that result from the natural geometry of roads, rivers, and coastlines, which better reflect real-world spatial relationships and improve processing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary selection and placement of linear features before final partition creation. By pre-identifying which roads, rivers, or coastlines should serve as dividing elements and positioning them optimally, the method ensures that resulting partitions have desirable shapes and sizes before the actual partitioning operation occurs.
3Area of stationary object
If the boundary geometry encloses the total area occupied by spatial data objects, then complete coverage is achieved, but partition polygons at coastal areas become oversized and require complicated deduplication and merge procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments oversized coastal partitions by introducing linear features (coastlines, roads, rivers) that cut through the natural boundary. This divides large, complex partitions into smaller units with fewer spatial objects each, reducing the complexity of deduplication and merge procedures while maintaining complete area coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial segmentation only where needed - specifically in areas where natural boundaries create oversized partitions. Not all partitions require linear feature intervention; the method selectively applies segmentation to problem areas, avoiding unnecessary complexity in regions where natural boundaries already produce suitable partition sizes.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A computer-implemented method and system for generating partition polygons across a geographic area, wherein a concave hull of the reference network, usually a network of linear features such as roads, and the spatial data objects to be processed is first generated, the resulting concave hull thereby providing the boundary geometry for the final partition scheme. By generating a concave hull from the reference network and the spatial data objects, it is possible to derive a boundary that is based on the spatial position of the reference network and the spatial data objects at the periphery of the geographic area that they cover, that is, the boundary itself connects at least a portion of the end points of the reference network and the spatial data objects. Consequently, the boundary lines of the concave hull intersect with more of the linear features of the reference network, particularly compared with the natural boundary geometry typically used such as coastlines, which helps to ensure that the partition polygons at the edges of the geographic area being processed are of a size and configuration that are easier to process.