Robert D. Rugg’s research while affiliated with Virginia Commonwealth University and other places

The assessment of semantic similarity among objects is a basic requirement for semantic interoperability. This paper presents an innovative approach to semantic similarity assessment by combining the advantages of two different strategies: feature-matching process and semantic distance calculation. The model involves a knowledge base of spatial concepts that consists of semantic relations (is-a and part-whole) and distinguishing features (functions, parts, and attributes). By taking into consideration cognitive properties of similarity assessments, this model represents a cognitively plausible and computationally achievable method for measuring the degree of interoperability.

The assessment of semantic similarity among objects is a basic requirement for semantic interoperability. This paper presents an innovative approach to semantic similarity assessment by combining the advantages of two different strategies: featurematching process and semantic distance calculation. The model involves a knowledge base of spatial concepts that consists of semantic relations (is-a and part-whole) and distinguishing features (functions, parts, and attributes). By taking into consideration cognitive properties of similarity assessments, this model expects to represent a cognitively plausible and computationally achievable method for measuring the degree of interoperability.

This paper addresses the problem of formalizing the natural-language definitions of spatial features. While the Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS) supports the structural aspects of the definition of spatial features, it falls short of providing means to convey explicitly their behavior. An approach using functional algebra is developed using the example of the SDTS standard entity types "dam," "watercourse," and "lake," together with the operations expressed in the natural-language definitions of these features. Formal algebraic specifications go beyond the SDTS approach, by providing precise mathematical representations of the behavior of geographic features and the interactions among related feature types. Functional specifications also help in refining the selection of attributes needed to characterize the behavior of a given feature type. An implication of the functional approach is to provide precise mathematical signatures of feature types as an alternative to natural-languag...

The assessment,of semantic similarity among,objects is a basic requirement for semantic interoperability. This paper,presents,an innovative,approach,to semantic similarity assessment,by combining,the advantages of two different strategies: feature-matching,process,and semantic,distance calculation. The model involves a knowledge base of spatial concepts,that consists of semantic relations (is-a and part-whole) and distinguishing features (functions, parts, and attributes). By taking into consideration cognitive properties of similarity assessments, this model represents a cognitively plausible and computationally,achievable,method for measuring,the degree of interoperability.

This paper concerns the application of the concept of cartographic features in the framework of computerized geographic information systems to support urban and regional planning. It includes a discussion of the conceptual background for this application, goals of the planning support system, the model to be used for its implementation, and a discussion of the range of planning problems to be addressed. The concept of cartographic features is addressed from the perspectives of Bouillé's Hypergraph-Based Data Structure (HBDS) model, the recent trend toward object-oriented geographic information systems (OOGIS) methodology, and the proposed U.S. Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS). For planning applications, it is also necessary to consider the planning process, as exemplified by the Krueckeberg and Silvers (1974) text on planning methods, and data availability of which the TIGER system is the most striking current example. The advent of SDTS in the United States will greatly facilitate both the development of local planning support systems and their transferability to a variety of situations in both developed and developing countries.

There has been a concerted effort in the U.S., over the past four years, to bring forth a national standard for dig ital cartographic data. A major portion of the project has been directed toward cartographic features. The assigned Working Group III of the National Committee for Digital Cartographic Data standards at first dealt with the issues and then developed alternatives. In the next stage, an interim proposed standard with a model schema of features, attributes, and attribute values plus definitions was pub lished. The preparation of these definitions and the testing of the standard are both described as are the problems en countered enroute and the work remaining.