Development of Data Fusion Method Based on Topological Relationships Using IndoorGML Core Module

Geospatial datasets are currently constructed, managed, and utilized individually according to the spatial scale of the real world, such as the ground/surface/underground or indoor/outdoor, as well the particular purpose of the geospatial data used for location-based services. In addition, LBS applications use an optimal data model and data format according to their particular purpose, and thus, various datasets exist to represent the same spatial features. Such duplicated geospatial datasets and geographical feature-based GIS data cause serious problems in the financial area, compatibility issues among LBS systems, and data integration problems among the various geospatial datasets generated independently for different systems. We propose a geospatial data fusion model called the topological relation-based data fusion model (TRDFM) using topological relations among spatial objects in order to integrate different geospatial datasets and different data formats. The proposed model is a geospatial data fusion model implemented in a spatial information application and is used to directly provide spatial information-based services without data conversion or exchange of geometric data generated by different data models. The proposed method was developed based on an extension of the AnchorNode concept of IndoorGML. The topological relationships among spatial objects are defined and described based upon the basic concept of IndoorGML. This paper describes the concept of the proposed TRDFM and shows an experimental implementation of the proposed data fusion model using commercial 3D GIS software. Finally, the limitations of this study and areas of future research are summarized.