Location coding on icosahedral aperture 3 hexagon discrete global grids

• Published in: Computers, environment and urban systems Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 174 - 187
• Main Author: Sahr, Kevin
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2008; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Algorithms; Apertures; Applied sciences; Balancing; Buckets; Buildings. Public works; Coding; Coordinates; Data structures; Exact sciences and technology; Geodetic coordinates; Hexagons; Icosahedral phase; Indexing; Integers; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Miscellaneous; Pyramids; Q1; Raster; Structural analysis. Stresses; Trees; Urban areas; Vectors (mathematics); Analysis method; International conference; Hexagonal shape; Coding; Grid; Discrete system; Algorithm; Spatial representation
• ISSN: 0198-9715; 1873-7587
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2007.11.005

Discrete global grid systems (DGGSs) represent a relatively new, but increasingly popular, approach to the problem of representing geospatial location on computer systems. Despite growing interest amongst potential users in icosahedral aperture 3 hexagon DGGSs, the practical use of such systems has been hindered by a lack of efficient spatial indexing methods. In this paper we discuss the two primary approaches to developing multi-resolution location coding systems for DGGSs: pyramid addressing and path addressing. We then describe an efficient pyramid addressing system for icosahedral aperture 3 hexagon DGGSs, the quadrilateral 2-dimensional integer system. After reviewing the problems inherent in developing path addressing systems for hexagon-based DGGSs we describe a class of path-based location coding solutions for icosahedral aperture 3 hexagon DGGSs called modified generalized balanced ternary, and show how this system can be used to index vector data. We then discuss a subset of this system, the icosahedral aperture 3 hexagon tree, which can be used to index raster and bucket data structures. Conversion algorithms to/from geodetic coordinates are discussed.