SPARTA (SPAtial Reasoning using Tesseral Addressing) is a software system designed to provide spatial reasoning support for N-dimensional GIS style applications. The system takes as input a description of a spatial domain together with a problem definition. The spatial domain is defined in terms of a set of spatial objects whose attributes (location, shape, Etc.) are expressed using a unique tesseral numbering system which:
The problem definition is expressed in terms of a set of constraints linking pairs of objects, which in turn are used to express relationships which are desired to exist or do exist. Typical applications addressed include the location of installations (roads, factories, Etc) and the effect on the environment that such installations may have (e.g. noise pollution). The system resolves spatial problems using a constraint satisfaction mechanism supported by a heuristically guided constraint selection strategy. The output can be in a number of forms, including graphical images, tesserals, comma-separated Cartesians and HTML. The system has been tested using both laboratory and "real life" scenarios. Of particular note is the recent analysis of noise pollution resulting from a proposed access road for the Earls Court exhibition centre in London. The system was developed as part of the dGKBIS (dynamic Knowledge Based Information Systems) project - http://www.csc.liv.ac.uk/~frans/OldResearch/dGKBIS/dGKBIS.html.