Geographical queries beyond conventional boundaries: regional search and exploration

Geographic information retrieval (GIR) has commonly been exploited for the search of specific points of interest using conventional text-based query methods. Such input methods restrict end users' search to predefined spatial boundaries. However in some scenarios, users' spatial information need do not only rely in specific places, but rather in the search and exploration of certain region of interest. A user might be interested in exploring a region he/she is already living in, or to search for other similar regions. In this paper we argue the need of more sophisticated query interfaces for GIR that abstracts from the places and support the search and exploration of relevant regions. To cater such user requirements we present spatial query definition on map interface that could provide interactive analysis, and relevance ranking of interesting regions.