Topology Rules Illustrated

Source: ESRI topology_rules_poster.pdf

See also: ESRI White Paper, Working with Geodatabase Topology, March 2003ESRI, ArcGIS 9: Editing in ArcMap, especially Chapter 4 Editing Topology (this book is considerably improved over the ArcGIS 8 version)

Within one line feature class

1

3

7

5

4

2

8

6

Between a point and a line feature class

Between two line feature classes

Between a line and a point feature class Between a line and a polygon feature class

9

1413

1211

10

Within one polygon feature class

15 16

Between two polygon feature classes

17

21

2019

18

Between a polygon and a point feature class Between a polygon and a line feature class

All lines and polygons

Between a point and a polygon feature class

22

26

2524

23

Note: numbers are mine, not ESRI’s!

Example of errors generated from the Polygons must not overlap with (#19) rule.Building footprints (in blue) must not overlap easements (in magenta).The violation areas are shown in yellow .The table shows the error report.User must make the decision whether these are:

--accuracy issues with one or other layer (more likely the footprint layer)--thus fix through editing.

--or violations where buildings have been built in easements--thus mark as “exceptions’

Example of Use of Topology Rule

Source: ESRI Working with Geodatabase Topology p.9