METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE INTERSECTION OF POLYGONS USED TO REPRESENT GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES

A method for determining a polygonal intersection of a first polygon and a second polygon. An intersection of the boundary of the first polygon with the boundary of the second polygon is located by finding a point from which at least three portions of boundaries extend. From this point, a first portion of the boundary of the polygonal intersection is determined by identifying a portion of the boundary of the first polygon that is located inside the second polygon. Each subsequent portion of the boundary of the polygonal intersection is determined by selecting that portion of the boundary of either the first polygon or the second polygon that (1) connects to a leading end of a current portion of the boundary of the polygonal intersection and (2) forms the least angle with the current portion of the boundary of the polygonal intersection.