Class Name: Connected Feature Edge

Superclass - SEDRIS Abstract Base

Definition

The one-directional topological relationship between a Feature Node and the ordered collection of Feature Edges that are connected to it.

Primary Page in DRM Diagram:

Example

  1. A Feature Node that represents a four-way road intersection would have a Connected Feature Edge component, which would be associated with each of the four Feature Edges that represent the road segments that meet at the intersection. Note that the Feature Node would also be associated with either the Feature Edge Starting Node or the Feature Edge Ending Node component(s) of each of those four Feature Edges.
    Connected Feature Edge, Example 1

FAQs

When is a Connected Feature Edge object required?
A Feature Node object is required to have a Connected Feature Edge component whenever it is the endpoint of one or more Feature Edges. This requirement holds at all feature topology levels. Also, if a Feature Node is not the endpoint of any Feature Edge, it must not have a Connected Feature Edge component.

Why would a Feature Node have more than one Connected Feature Edge component?
At feature topology levels 0 through 3, all of the Feature Edges connected to a Feature Node are located in the same topological surface; consequently, they can be ordered around the Feature Node. However, at feature topology level 4, Feature Edges can connect to a Feature Node from any direction in 3-dimensional space. When the Feature Edges connected to a Feature Node are not all located in the same topological surface, the Feature Edges must be organized into subsets, one for each separate topological surface, and the Feature Node must have a separate Connected Feature Edge component for each such subset.

Can the same Feature Edge appear more than once in the collection of Feature Edges associated with a Connected Feature Edge?
Yes. If a Feature Edge forms a loop, so that its Feature Edge Starting Node and its Feature Edge Ending Node are the same Feature Node, that Feature Edge will appear exactly twice in the collection of Feature Edges associated with the Connected Feature Edge.

What is the relationship between the Connected Feature Edge class and the Feature Edge Terminal Node classes?
The Connected Feature Edge class and the Feature Edge Terminal Node classes (Feature Edge Starting Node and Feature Edge Ending Node) form the two halves of the bidirectional topological relationship between Feature Nodes and Feature Edges. Whenever a Feature Edge appears in the collection of associated with a Connected Feature Edge component of a Feature Node, that same Feature Node must be associated with either the Feature Edge Starting Node, or the Feature Edge Ending Node component of that Feature Edge, and vice versa.

Constraints

Associated to (one-way)

Component of (one-way)


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