[postgis-users] How to tell if 2 geometries are spatially equal

[Martin Davis]

I use "topologically equal" because the OGC SFS specification uses the 
term "topology" extensively in their discussion of the meaning of the 
DE-9IM model, on which the semantics of ST_equals is based. 

I can see how you might want a definition of topology which would 
distinguish the two given geometries.  However, I think that the DE-9IM 
is based on the idea of simplicial complexes.  I'm fairly certain that 
two geometries are only comparable in this model if they can be 
expressed in the same simplicial complex.  In such a setting, both of 
the geometries in question will have the same form - and hence are 
equal.  I'm pretty sure that simplicial complexes are an aspect of 
topolgical theory - which brings us back to where we started.

I don't like the term "spatially-equal", because I think "spatially" is 
too vague and overloaded.  How about "point-set equal"?  The idea is 
that  A = B iff every point of A is in B and every point of B is in A. 


Andy Anderson wrote:
> I wouldn't call this example "topologically" equal; one has two 
> vertices and the other has three, and that's the only characteristic 
> that's relevant in topology (not even their positions :-)
>
> "Coincident" is probably a better term, though "spatially equal" is 
> probably just as good, and contrasts well with the term "geometrically 
> equal" that the manual uses to describe the ~= operator.
>
> -- Andy
>
> On May 30, 2008, at 7:54 PM, Martin Davis wrote:
>
>> Will ST_equals do what you want?  It reports whether two geometries 
>> are topologically equal.
>>
>> (So for example, ST_equals('LINESTRING(0 0, 10 10)','LINESTRING(0 0, 
>> 5 5, 10 10)') is true)
>>
>> Obe, Regina wrote:
>>> I recall this having come up before.  I always thought that ~= would
>>> tell me if 2 geometries are spatially equal but it doesn't seem to.
>>>
>>> The only way I can figure to determine spatial equality is if
>>> ST_Within(A,B)  And  ST_Within(B,A)  (or ST_Difference(A,B) AND
>>> ST_Difference(B,A) both return an empty geometry collection)
>>>
>>> --So case in point
>>>
>>> SELECT geom1 ~= geom2 as what, ST_Within(geom1, geom2) AND
>>> ST_Within(geom2, geom1) As spatial_equal,
>>>     ST_AsText(ST_Difference(geom1, geom2)) as diffgeom12,
>>> ST_AsText(ST_Difference(geom2, geom1)) as diffgeom21 FROM (SELECT 
>>> 'LINESTRING(1 1, 1 2, 1 3)'::geometry As geom1,     'LINESTRING(1 1, 
>>> 1 3)'::geometry As geom2) As foo
>>>
>>> Results:
>>>
>>> what | spatial_equal |        diffgeom12        |        diffgeom21
>>> ------+---------------+--------------------------+---------------------- 
>>>
>>> ----
>>> f    | t             | GEOMETRYCOLLECTION EMPTY | GEOMETRYCOLLECTION
>>> EMPTY
>>>
>>>
>>> Is there a function / operator that does that (also what does geom1 =
>>> geom2 compare - is it just bounding boxes or is that the spatially 
>>> equal
>>> operator I am looking for?)
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Regina
>>>
>>> -----------------------------------------
>>> The substance of this message, including any attachments, may be
>>> confidential, legally privileged and/or exempt from disclosure
>>> pursuant to Massachusetts law. It is intended
>>> solely for the addressee. If you received this in error, please
>>> contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> postgis-users mailing list
>>> postgis-users at postgis.refractions.net
>>> http://postgis.refractions.net/mailman/listinfo/postgis-users
>>>
>>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Martin Davis
>> Senior Technical Architect
>> Refractions Research, Inc.
>> (250) 383-3022
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> postgis-users mailing list
>> postgis-users at postgis.refractions.net
>> http://postgis.refractions.net/mailman/listinfo/postgis-users
>
> _______________________________________________
> postgis-users mailing list
> postgis-users at postgis.refractions.net
> http://postgis.refractions.net/mailman/listinfo/postgis-users
>

-- 
Martin Davis
Senior Technical Architect
Refractions Research, Inc.
(250) 383-3022