Object Decomposition for Spatial Query Processing

Efficient query processing for complex spatial objects is one of the most challenging requirements in non-traditional applications such as geographic information systems, computer-aided design, and multimedia databases. The performance of spatial query processing can be improved by decomposing a complex object into a small number of simple components. This paper investigates the natural trade-off between the number and the complexity of decomposed components. In particular, we propose a new object decomposition method that can control the number of components using a parameter. This method enables the user to select the optimal trade-off by controlling the parameter. The proposed method is compared with traditional decomposition methods by an analytical study and experimental measurements. These comparisons show that our decomposition method outperforms traditional decomposition methods.