Linear Reference System

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A Linear Referencing System (LRS) is a system where features (points or segments) are localized by a measure along a linear element (e.g., a vector line). The LRS can be used to reference events for any network of linear features, for example bus stops along roads, train stations along railways, water quality measurements along rivers, pipelines, electric and telephone lines, water and sewer networks. An event is defined in LRS by a route ID and a measure. A route is a path on the network, usually composed from more features in the input map. Events can be either points or lines (segments).

LRS is created from input lines and points in vector map. Points - MP (mileposts) must have attached attributes specifying line and distance. The distances from the beginning of the linear feature in real world are specified by MP+offset. Typically, MP is in kilometers and offset in meters.

Creation of LRS (modified from R. Blazek, 2005, Fig. 4