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Spatial Vagueness

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Methods for Handling Imperfect Spatial Information

Part of the book series: Studies in Fuzziness and Soft Computing ((STUDFUZZ,volume 256))

Abstract

This chapter explores the phenomenon of vagueness as it relates to spatial information. It will be seen that many semantic subtleties and representational difficulties arise when spatial information is affected by vagueness. Moreover, since vagueness is particularly pervasive in spatial terminology, these problems have a significant bearing on the development of computational systems to provide functionality involving high-level manipulation of spatial data. The paper begins by considering various foundational issues regarding the nature and semantics of vagueness. Overviews are then given of several approaches to spatial vagueness that have been proposed in the literature. Following this, a more detailed presentation is given of the relatively recently developed standpoint theory of vagueness and how it can be applied to spatial concepts and relations. This theory is based on the identification of parameters of variability in the meaning of vague concepts. A standpoint is a choice of threshold values determining the range of variation over which a vague predicate is judged to be applicable. The chapter concludes with an examination of a number of particularly significant vague spatial properties and relations and how they can be represented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computing, University of Leeds,  

    Brandon Bennett

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  1. Brandon Bennett
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. IGM Université Paris Est, Champs-sur-Marne, France

    Robert Jeansoulin

  2. LSIS UMR CNRS, Marseille, France

    Odile Papini

  3. Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France

    Henri Prade

  4. Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Steven Schockaert

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Bennett, B. (2010). Spatial Vagueness. In: Jeansoulin, R., Papini, O., Prade, H., Schockaert, S. (eds) Methods for Handling Imperfect Spatial Information. Studies in Fuzziness and Soft Computing, vol 256. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14755-5_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14755-5_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-14754-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-14755-5

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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