초록

A CAD/GIS system that automatically discovers hierarchical relationships between root faces/parcels, smaller faces/parcels, and other defined areas of land. As the definitions are entered into the system, hierarchical relationships are created by the system to ease data management functions.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for creating hierarchical relationships in a computer assisted design and geographic information (CAD/GIS) system, comprising: defining at least one face of land within the CAD/GIS system, where the face is defined as a closed polygon; defining at least one area of l

What is claimed is: 1. A method for creating hierarchical relationships in a computer assisted design and geographic information (CAD/GIS) system, comprising: defining at least one face of land within the CAD/GIS system, where the face is defined as a closed polygon; defining at least one area of land within the CAD/GIS system, wherein the area is a closed polygon within the face; and automatically creating a hierarchy between the face and the area within the CAD/GIS system, wherein the face has a higher level on the hierarchy than the area, and wherein said automatically creating is dynamically performed as the face and/or area is entered into the CAD/GIS system. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: deleting a boundary of the closed polygon, wherein the deleting results in the polygon no longer being closed; and in response to the deleting, automatically and dynamically destroying the hierarchy within the CAD/GIS system. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing additional properties of the area within the CAD/GIS system, wherein the additional properties comprise buildable area, easements, and setbacks, within a level of the hierarchy that stores the area. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining a first and a second area of land within the CAD/GIS system, wherein the second area is a closed polygon within the first area; and automatically creating the hierarchy between the first area and the second area within the CAD/GIS system, wherein the first area has a higher level on the hierarchy than the second area. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the area is further defined as a lot, a right-of-way, a wetland, an easement, or an open space. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the face is further defined using easements for sewers, utilities, or right-of-ways. 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically and dynamically updating the hierarchy as faces and/or areas are graphically edited by a user in the CAD/GIS system. 8. The method of claim 1 further comprising: modifying a property of the area within the CAD/GIS system; and in response to said modifying, automatically and dynamically updating the hierarchy. 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically and dynamically displaying the hierarchy. 10. An apparatus for creating hierarchical relationships in a computer assisted design and geographic information (CAD/GIS) system comprising: (a) a computer system having a memory and a data storage device coupled thereto; (b) one or more CAD/GIS programs, performed by the computer: (i) for defining at least one face of land within the CAD/GIS system, where the face is defined as a closed polygon; (ii) for defining at least one area of land within the CAD/GIS system, wherein the area is a closed polygon within the face; and (iii) for automatically creating a hierarchy between the face and the area within the CAD/GIS system, wherein the face has a higher level on the hierarchy than the area, and wherein said automatically creating is dynamically performed as the face and/or area is entered into the CAD/GIS system. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a computer program performed by the computer for: deleting a boundary of the closed polygon, wherein the deleting results in the polygon no longer being closed; and in response to the deleting, automatically and dynamically destroying the hierarchy within the CAD/GIS system. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a computer program performed by the computer for storing additional properties of the area within the CAD/GIS system, wherein the additional properties comprise buildable area, easements, and setbacks, within a level of the hierarchy that stores the area. 13. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising one or more computer programs, performed by the computer, for defining a first and a second area of land within the CAD/GIS system, wherein the second area is a closed polygon within the first area; and for automatically creating the hierarchy between the second area and the area within the CAD/GIS system, wherein the first area has a higher level on the hierarchy than the second area. 14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the area is further defined as a lot, a right-of-way, a wetland, an easement, or an open space. 15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the face is further defined using easements for sewers, utilities, or right-of-ways. 16. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a computer program performed by the computer for automatically and dynamically updating the hierarchy as faces and/or areas are graphically edited by a user in the CAD/GIS system. 17. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a computer program performed by the computer for: modifying a property of the area within the CAD/GIS system; and in response to said modifying, automatically and dynamically updating the hierarchy. 18. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform a method for automatically creating hierarchical relationships in a computer assisted design and geographic information (CAD/GIS) system, the method comprising: defining at least one face of land within the CAD/GIS system, where the face is defined as a closed polygon; defining at least one area of land within the CAD/GIS system, wherein the area is a closed polygon within the face; and automatically creating a hierarchy between the face and the area within the CAD/GIS system, wherein the face has a higher level on the hierarchy than the area, and wherein said automatically creating is dynamically performed as the face and/or area is entered into the CAD/GIS system. 19. The article of manufacture of claim 18, the method further comprising: deleting a boundary of the closed polygon, wherein the deleting results in the polygon no longer being closed; and in response to the deleting, automatically and dynamically destroying the hierarchy within the CAD/GIS system. 20. The article of manufacture of claim 18, further comprising storing additional properties of the area within the CAD/GIS system, wherein the additional properties comprise buildable area, easements, and setbacks, within a level of the hierarchy that stores the area. 21. The article of manufacture of claim 18, further comprising defining a first and a second area of land within the CAD/GIS system, wherein the second area is a closed polygon within the area; and automatically creating the hierarchy between the first area and the second area within the CAD/GIS system, wherein the first area has a higher level on the hierarchy than the second area. 22. The article of manufacture of claim 18, wherein the area is further defined as a lot, a right-of-way, a wetland, an easement, or an open space. 23. The article of manufacture of claim 18, wherein the face is further defined using easements for sewers, utilities, or right-of-ways. 24. The article of manufacture of claim 18 further comprising automatically and dynamically updating the hierarchy as faces and/or areas are graphically edited by a user in the CAD/GIS system. 25. The article of manufacture of claim 18 further comprising: modifying a property of the area within the CAD/GIS system; and in response to said modifying, automatically and dynamically updating the hierarchy.