U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

Category Spatial Relations

Dalia Varanka, Research GeographerCenter of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science

Rich Feature Vocabulary

‘Local geography’ ground collection and validation from 1890s – 1980s

Spatial Relation Primitives

Spatial relation properties (verb/preposition pairs) extracted from topo feature definitions

FLOW

Subject Predicate Object

Water flowTHROUGH Channel (Linear deep part of a body of water)

Underground water flowTO The surface of the EarthCAUSED Crater (Circular-shaped depression at the summit of a volcanic cone or one on the surface of the land)

causedBY the impact of a meteorite

Crater (a manmade depression) an explosion (caldera, lua)FORM Crossing (A place where two or more routes of transportation)

form a junction or intersection (overpass, underpass)

REMOVED Mine (place where commercial minerals) removedFROM Earth

Oilfield (area where petroleum is/was) Earth

Part Relation Terms for Topographic Data Predicates

Collection Equipped Made of Series

Composed Fitted Portion Set

Consists Group Section Subdivide

Descriptive Terms for Predicates

align cover end low-point roof

along cross erect lower rotate

angle curve exit measured slope

approach descend extend narrowing steep

attach deformation fill nearly strung

border delineated flank network submerge

broken depart forming open surface

characterized depression fronted overhanging surrounds

confluent depth high(er) parallel trends

connect devoid hold pass upright

contain distinct level project vertical

contact enclose lie rise visible

Force Dynamic / Process Terms for Predicates

adapted convert dwell generate pile result

advance course eject go plant run

affected descend emit interrupt position rush

block deposit enter inundate project saturate

bore direct exit issue pump send

break disappear erode join purify subject

built discharge extract launch raise support

bury divide fall load receive suspend

carry drain float made remove swing

cause draw flow mix render transport

change due force move resist wash

control dug form obstruct restrict

Human Intention Terms for Predicates

able create entry intended passage serve

access cultivate established kept place set aside

administrative danger form known prescribe store

afford defined fortify limit provide subject

application designated function load pump submerge

capable designed hold maintain reference test

carry out determined identified obstruct require jurisdiction

charted develop incorporated operate restrict use

construct divide indicating own secure

Semantic Richness for Complex Feature Classes

Power lines

Conveyors

Railroad

Roads• dirt / gravel

Buildings• offices• maintenance sheds• head frame (shaft) *• ore processing

Disturbed ground• ore piles• tailings• quarry / pit **• mountaintop removed **

Large vehicles• haulers• front-end loaders• scoops• dump trucks

* Underground mining ** Surface mining

connects

connects

powers

powers

carriesTo carriesTo/From

carriesTo

DatasetGeometry/ Format

Attribution/ Scaling

URL

National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) Vector Discrete/nominal http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/nhd.html?p=nhdNational Transportation Dataset Vector; tables Discrete/nominal http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/

http://gisdata.usgs.net/website/MRLC/viewer.htmNational Boundaries Dataset Vector Discrete/nominal http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/National Structures Dataset Vector Discrete/nominal http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Vector Discrete/nominal http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/download_data.htmNational Elevation Dataset (NED) Raster Continuous/ratio http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/

http://seamless.usgs.gov/website/seamless/viewer.htmNational Digital Orthophotos Raster Continuous/

intervalhttp://www.ndop.gov/data.html; http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/http://gisdata.usgs.net/website/MRLC/viewer.htm

National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) Raster Discrete/nominal http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/http://gisdata.usgs.net/website/MRLC/viewer.htm

Global Land Cover Dataset Raster Discrete/nominal http://landcover.usgs.gov/landcoverdata.phpLiDAR Point Continuous/ratio http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/Satellite images Raster Continuous/interval http://edcsns17.cr.usgs.gov/NewEarthExplorer/; http://glovis.usgs.gov/Hazards (Earthquakes, Volcanoes) Graphics Multiple forms http://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/; http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/status.phpMinerals Vector; text Discrete/nominal http://mrdata.usgs.gov/; http://tin.er.usgs.gov/mrds/

http://tin.er.usgs.gov/geochem/; http://crustal.usgs.gov/geophysics/index.html

Energy Vector; databases Multiple forms http://energy.usgs.gov/search.htmlLandscapes and Coasts Reports Discrete/nominal http://geochange.er.usgs.gov/info/holdings.htmlAstrogeology Databases Discrete/nominal http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/DataAndInformation/Geologic Map Database Vector; maps; text Discrete/nominal http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Geologic Data Digital Data Series Maps; tables Discrete/nominal http://pubs.usgs.gov/dds/dds-060/National Water Information System Graphics; tables Continuous/ratio http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/nwisgmap/Floods and High Flow Graphics; tables Continuous/ratio http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/new/index.php?id=ww

Drought Graphics; tables Continuous/ratio http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/new/index.php?id=wwMonthly Stream Flow Graphics; tables Continuous/ratio http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/new/index.php?id=wwGround Water Vector; tables; Continuous/ratio http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/gw/; http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/Water Quality Graphics Continuous/ratio http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/qw/; http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/wqwatch/National Biological Information Infra- structure (NBII)

Graphics; vector; geodatabases

Multiple forms http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/community/nbii_home/236

Vegetation Characterization Vector; databases Multiple forms http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/

Wildlife Vector; text;video Multiple forms http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/

Invasive Species Vector; databases; graphics, image

Multiple forms http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/community/invasive_species/221

Location Vocabularies

W3C Geo ontologies Geography Markup Language (GML) Well Known Text (WKT) GeoSPARQL for binary topologic relations SKOS broaderThan, narrowerThan for entities

within entities A limited number of terms at geonames.org

Categorical Spatial Relations

Subsystem: Lacustrine Littoral – The Littoral Subsystem includes shallow habitats in the Lacustrine System. The shoreward boundary of this subsystem extends to the landward limit of non-persistent emergents. The lakeward boundary includes all waters to a depth of 2 meters below Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), or to the maximum extent of non-persistent emergents, whichever depth is greater.

Subsystem: Lacustrine Limnetic – The Limnetic Subsystem includes all deepwater habitats within the Lacustrine System. “Deepwater habitats” are those that occur at depths greater than 2 meters below MLLW—unless there are non-persistent emergents in those areas. In which case, “deepwater habits” are those beyond the limit of occurrence of non-persistent emergents.

Our Interest in BFO

Ontology modeling best practices Strong general environment/science

specification approaches Recognition of the role of geographic

features and/or space Approaches to processes and change