Proper shape over finite coverings (Q719731)

A study of proper shape originates in the work of \textit{B. J. Ball} and \textit{R. B. Sher} [Fundam. Math. 86, 163--192 (1974; Zbl 0293.54037)], which shows that a proper shape eqivalence between locally compact metric spaces \(X\) and \(Y\) implies a shape equivalence between their end compactifications \(FX\) and \(FY\). The present paper introduces an intrinsic definition of proper shape, called the proper F-shape theory, using finite coverings consisting of open sets with compact boundaries, and proves the theorem of Ball and Sher for this theory. The authors' construction is based on a notion of proper proximate F-sequence from \(X\) to \(Y\), which is a certain sequence of proper functions from \(X\) to \(Y\) defined for a sequence of refinements \({\mathcal V}_1 > {\mathcal V}_2 > \cdots\) by finite coverings consisting of open sets with compact boundaries. Another intrinsic definition of proper shape, which conincides with the theory of Ball and Sher, is given by \textit{Y. Akaike} and \textit{K. Sakai} [Glas. Mat., III. Ser. 33, No.2, 299--321 (1998; Zbl 0939.55008)]. Their theory is based on a notion of proper proximate net, which is a net of proper functions indexed by all locally finite coverings consisting of open sets with compact closures. The present paper is along the line of studying intrinsic definitions of shape theory: \textit{J. E. Feit} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 46, 426--430 (1974; Zbl 0292.55013)], \textit{J.M.R. Sanjurjo} [Q. J. Math., Oxf. II. Ser. 40, No.159, 351--359 (1989; Zbl 0697.55012)], and the first author [Topol. Proc. 39, 27--39 (2012; Zbl 1215.54008)].