Snal: Spatial Network Algebra For Modeling Spatial Networks In Database Systems

Spatial networks such as road networks, river networks, telephone networks, and power networks are ubiquitous spatial concepts deployed, for example, in route planning, communication services, high voltage grid topology analysis, and utility management. Current database systems are unable to efficiently handle, represent, store, query, and manipulate large spatial networks. Moreover, data models of spatial networks in a database context are rare due to their inherently complex nature. This paper offers a conceptual foundation called Spatial Network Algebra (SNAL) for designing, characterizing, and representing spatial networks. A general-purpose abstract model is proposed as a specification for a later implementation of spatial networks in different environments such as spatial database systems and GIS.