Shape Types for Labeling Natural Polygon Features with Maplex

The article presents information on a methodology used for describing natural polygons, which enables feature label placement rules to be derived for Maplex. Maplex is a cartographic label placement extension for ArcGIS, the complete Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In cartographic label placement one need to find the shape of the polygon and how large the polygon is within the context of the space required to place text. The methodology being is the polygon's minimum bounding rectangle (MBR). MBRs have also been used for automated text placement algorithms. This method could prove to be very effective in labeling soil type, vegetation type, and surface geology type.