[Lib2geom-devel] Requirements for lib2geom spatial index...

[Sunburned S. <sun...@gm...>]

Hey guys. I always try to sketch out a basic design for my code before a
start writing classes. It usually helps to think about the problem I'm
trying to solve and what basic requirements my code will need to meet. I
wanted to share what I thought would be some good requirements for a
lib2geom spatial index. I want to have these in mind when I start to look at
the existing quadtree class.

Requirement #1: The spatial index should not be limited to a fixed size. At
a minimum, it should be able to expand in size. If possible, it should be
able to contract in size. (I'm not speaking of computer memory consumed when
I say "size" in this context. I mean the limits of the space or area being
indexed.)

Requirement #2: The spatial index should offer the ability for efficient
updates. In other words, you shouldn't have to determine where every
geometry belongs in the index when a geometry is (a) added to the index (b)
removed from the index, or (c) a geometry in the index is modified.

Requirement #3: The spatial index should present a simple API for its basic
functionality. In other words it shoud have a method that accepts a
rectangle or envelope and returns a list of the geometries that are
contained or intersected by that argument.

What do you guys think? Am I missing anything?

Scott Huey

P.S. - Do you guys have a class template I can use for lib2geom? If not,
could I make one?