Vector and raster data model often base their conceptual framework on discreteness and continuity. Although the distinction makes sense in practice, more fundamental argument needs to be drawn on the fact that the continuous nature of geographic reali...
Vector and raster data model often base their conceptual framework on discreteness and continuity. Although the distinction makes sense in practice, more fundamental argument needs to be drawn on the fact that the continuous nature of geographic reality is not technically compatible to the discrete representation in the physical computer systems. The discrepancy between conceptual basis for perceiving geographic reality and physical limitation for concrete representation of it has derived the problem which has been referred to as modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) in geographical analysis context. In the literature of geographical information science, the two dichotomous distinction of geographic reality and physical bound is remarked to object and field debates. In this paper, ontological argument is provided on realigning the distinction between discreteness and continuity to object and field to revisit the framework of vector and raster representation of geographic reality. The argument is intrinsically associated with the fundamental question of how to define geographic boundary, which is the foundational source of conceptual dilemma in vector and raster debate. It is expected that the argument in ontological perspective provides theoretically sound conceptual base for re-illuminating MAUP in geographical analysis.