GIS Spatial Modeling, Spatial Analysis
Topology and Geographic Information Systems
Topology models are the enabling mechanism in GIS that allows us to analyze the complex spatial relationships of the world around us. Networks are but one example of how Topology can be applied. Topology refers to how a set of points, also known as nodes, are interrelated, or alternatively, how a set of segments are connected to each other. The collective structure of nodes and linear segments may be used to model geographic information on transportation, stream or utility networks. Based on the defined behaviors of the elements which comprise the model, networks can be used to simulate system dynamics, temporal changes, shortest path analysis, etc. In GIS, a networks features are typically depicted as a cartographic layer extended by rules that govern the connectivity between elements of the model.