Spatial Similarity Relations in Multi-scale Map Spaces

Preface.- Introduction.- Background and Motivation.- Significances of Spatial Similarity Relations.- Theory of Spatial Relations.- Spatial Description, Spatial Reasoning and Spatial Query/Retrieval.- Spatial Recognition.- Automated Map Generalization.- Classification of Objects in Multi-scale Map Spaces.- Definitions of Map Scale Change.- Research Objectives.- Scope of the Study.- Book Outline.- Literature Review and Analysis.- Definitions of Similarity.- Definitions of Similarity in Various Fields.- Critical Analysis of the Definitions.- Features of Similarity.- Features of Similarity in Different Fields.- Critical Analysis of the Features.- Classification for Spatial Similarity Relations.- Calculation Models/Measures for Similarity Degree.- Models in Psychology.- Models/measures in Computer Science.- Models/measures in Music.- Models/measures in Geography.- Critical Analyses of Existing Models/Measures.- Raster-based Approaches for Map Similarity Comparison.- Per Category Comparison Method.- Kappa Comparison Method.- Fuzzy Kappa Approach.- Fuzzy Inference System.- Fuzzy Comparison with Unequal Resolutions.- Aggregated Cells.- Moving Window-based Structure.- Numerical Comparison Methods.- Chapter Summary.- Concepts of Spatial Similarity Relations in Multi-scale Map Spaces.- Definitions.- Definitions of Similarity Relation.- Definitions of Spatial Similarity Relation.- Definitions of Spatial Similarity Relation in Multi-scale Map Spaces.- Definition of Difference.- Features.- Equality.- Finiteness.- Minimality.- Auto-similarity.- Symmetry (Reflectivity).- Non-transitivity.- Weak Symmetry.- Asymmetry.- Triangle Inequality.- Scale-dependence.- Factors in Similarity Judgments.- Factors for Individual Objects.- Factors for Object Groups.- Psychological Tests for Determining the Weights of the Factors.- Classification.- A Classification System of Spatial Similarity Relations in Geographic Spaces.- A Classification System of Spatial Similarity Relations on Line Maps.-

Dr. Haowen Yan obtained his Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctor's degrees in Cartography and Geographic Information Engineering from Wuhan University, China, in 1991, 1996 and 2002, respectively. After that he had worked in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University as a research assistant for one year, in the University of Zurich as a senior researcher for one year, in the University of Waterloo as a research Fellow for three years. He is currently a visiting professor at the University of Waterloo and professor of Geomatics in the Lanzhou Jiaotong University, China.

Jonathan Li is a professor at the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo. He completed his Ph.D in geomatics engineering at the University of Cape Town and began teaching in 2000 as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Geography, University of Regina, then Assistant Professor and tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Ryerson University. Dr. Li's research interests lie mainly in the areas of remote sensing and geographic information science, including high-resolution satellite mapping, airborne and terrestrial mobile lidar mapping, earth observation of global change, remote sensing of inland and coastal waters, remote sensing of renewable energy potential, mapping of climate-induced hazards, Internet GIS and Web Mapping, Terrain Analysis in Hydrogeography, geospatial sensor network, and geospatial information technologies for emergency response and disaster management.