A necessary relation algebra for mereotopology (Q5959762)

The standard model for mereotopological structures are Boolean subalgebras of the complete Boolean algebra of regular closed subsets of a non-empty connected regular \(T_0\) topological space with an additional ``contact relation'' \(xCy\Leftrightarrow x\cap y\neq\emptyset\). It is proved that the basic operations of the relational calculus on a contact relation generate at least 25 relations in any model of the Region Connection Calculus [see: \textit{Z. Cui, A. G. Cohn} and \textit{D. A. Randell}, ``Computing transitivity tables: A challenge for automated theorem provers'', in: D. Kapur (ed.), Automated deduction, CADE 11, Lect. Notes Comput. Sci. 607, 786-790 (1992; Zbl 0925.03144)], which can be interpreted in the standard model of the collection of regular open sets in the two-dimensional Euclidean plane.