Hierarchical spatial reasoning theory and GIS technology applied to the automated delineation of administrative boundaries

Abstract

Throughout history, humankind has segmented and delineated the geographic environment in various ways to support administrative, political and economic activities. To date, the majority of spatial boundaries have been constructed in an uncoordinated manner with individual organisations generating individual boundaries to meet their own specific needs. As a result of this lack of coordination, there is a fragmentation of information over a series of boundary units, which not only limits the potential uses for data collected, but also the scope of analysis possible between boundary layers. The proposed solution outlined in this research involves the reorganisation of the spatial environment ba..