As multi-scale databases based on scale series of map data are built, conceptual models are needed to define proper multi-scale representation formulas and to extract model entities and the relationships among them. However, the results of multi-scale conceptual abstraction schema may differ, according to which cognition, abstraction and application views are utilized, which presents an obvious obstacle to the reuse and sharing of spatial data. To facilitate the design of unified, common and objective abstract schema views for multi-scale spatial databases, this paper proposes an ontology-based analysis method for the multi-scale modeling of geographical features. It includes a three-layer ontology model, which serves as the framework for common multi-scale abstraction schema; an explanation of formulary abstractions accompanied by definitions of entities and their relationships at the same scale, as well as different scales,which are meant to provide strong feasibility, expansibility and speciality functions; and a case in point involving multi-scale representations of road features, to verify the method's feasibility.
WANG Yanhui, LI Xiaojuan & GONG Huili Key Laboratory of Three-Dimensional Information Acquisition and Application, Ministry of Education, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100037, China
