CGAL users discussion list

[infblnpf <>]

Hello,
My application is to represent shapes on the Earth's (using a sphere is
sufficient) surface. Those can be points, lines, and polygons. Coordinates
should be defined by using degrees or radians (just like geographic
coordinates).  

A (straight) line for example should be defined by two coordinates and use
the great circle ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_circle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_circle ) to connect them.
Polygons should consist of a collection of the lines mentioned.
Furthermore I would like to perform operations like intersection, union,
difference, complement on the shapes mentioned. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_%28mathematics%29#Basic_operations Set
(mathematics) - Basic Operations  gives an idea of the operations assuming
that the circles would be polygons. Of course those operations would differ
if I for example intersect two lines.
These operations only need to output collections of coordinates.

What I don't need is extended functionality like Voronoi diagrams,
Triangulations, and so on. Also I don't need to graphically display the
results.

I tried to figure that out using CGAL. More precisely I was looking at the
"3D Spherical Geometry Kernel" and "2D Boolean Operations on Nef Polygons
Embedded on the Sphere".  Actually I already had problems with putting a
line on the sphere without previously defining another sphere or a plane.
Additionally CGAL works in the Euclidean Space, which still leaves me with
the geometric operations necessary, to work with great circles placed on the
sphere.

I would highly appreciate it, if you could assist me in realizing that with
CGAL if possible.

Thank you very much!
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