Reverse Geocoder Using Hierarchical Map Cell Indexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional maps and GPS devices lack efficient methods to identify and display relevant geographic features associated with a specific location lookup point, leading to inefficiencies in providing situational awareness to users.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that generates a plurality of search cells corresponding to hierarchical map cells, uses preprocessed indices to identify and score geographic features based on area overlap, and displays relevant features to users, optimizing the reverse geocoding process by minimizing the number of map cells used for approximation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional maps and GPS devices are used to provide situational awareness, then basic location information can be displayed, but the system lacks efficiency in identifying and displaying relevant geographic features associated with a specific location lookup point
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing geographic feature data and organizing it into hierarchical map cells before actual queries. This allows the system to quickly retrieve and identify relevant geographic features without performing complex computations at query time, thereby improving efficiency and reducing response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The geographic space is segmented into hierarchical map cells, with each cell containing pre-processed lists of associated geographic features. This segmentation allows the system to efficiently query only the relevant cell containing the lookup point, rather than searching through all geographic features, thus significantly improving productivity and reducing time loss.
2Measurement precision
If multiple map cells are used for approximation, then geographic features can be identified, but the number of cells increases computational complexity and processing overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by associating different levels of detail with different hierarchical map cells. The cell containing the lookup point receives the most detailed and relevant geographic feature information, while parent cells provide progressively less detailed information. This allows accurate feature identification without requiring all cells to maintain high detail, reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a hierarchical dimension to the map cell structure, organizing cells into parent-child relationships across multiple levels. This dimensional organization allows the system to efficiently navigate from coarse to fine granularity, identifying relevant geographic features with minimal cells while maintaining precision through the hierarchical structure rather than increasing the number of cells at a single level.
3Loss of information
If geographic features are scored based on area overlap, then relevant features can be prioritized, but the scoring process requires additional computational resources
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by scoring only the geographic features within the specific map cell containing the lookup point, rather than scoring all geographic features in the database. This partial scoring approach maintains information quality by prioritizing relevant features while significantly reducing computational energy requirements compared to comprehensive scoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and scores only the geographic features most relevant to the specific location lookup point by focusing computation on the containing map cell and its immediate children. This extraction of relevant features for scoring minimizes energy consumption while preserving the loss of minimal information about less relevant features that are not scored.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspect of the subject technology relate to a computer-implemented method for identifying geographic features related to a location lookup point. In some implementations, the method includes steps for receiving location information for a location look-up point, generating a plurality of search cells containing the location look-up point, wherein the plurality of search cells correspond with a respective plurality of hierarchical map cells and using the plurality of search cells to identify at least one geographic feature that is associated with at least one of the plurality of search cells. In certain aspects, the method can further include steps for providing at least one geographic feature to a user for display. Systems and computer-readable media for generating a geographic feature index are also provided.