Class LineSequencer

Builds a sequence from a set of LineStrings so that they are ordered end to end. A sequence is a complete non-repeating list of the linear components of the input. Each linestring is oriented so that identical endpoints are adjacent in the list.

A typical use case is to convert a set of unoriented geometric links from a linear network (e.g. such as block faces on a bus route) into a continuous oriented path through the network.

The input linestrings may form one or more connected sets. The input linestrings should be correctly noded, or the results may not be what is expected. The computed output is a single MultiLineString containing the ordered linestrings in the sequence.

The sequencing employs the classic Eulerian path graph algorithm. Since Eulerian paths are not uniquely determined, further rules are used to make the computed sequence preserve as much as possible of the input ordering. Within a connected subset of lines, the ordering rules are:

• If there is degree-1 node which is the start node of an linestring, use that node as the start of the sequence
• If there is a degree-1 node which is the end node of an linestring, use that node as the end of the sequence
• If the sequence has no degree-1 nodes, use any node as the start

Note that not all arrangements of lines can be sequenced. For a connected set of edges in a graph, Euler's Theorem states that there is a sequence containing each edge once if and only if there are no more than 2 nodes of odd degree. If it is not possible to find a sequence, the isSequenceable() method will return false.

Other

• version: 1.7