A method whereby a computing platform that uses geographic data that are
spatially organized into parcels of a given size can specify a parcel
block size larger than the given size. Thereafter, during runtime, the
geographic data are accessed by the computing platform in groups of one
or more parcels not larger than the parcel block size. According to one
embodiment, at or after initialization of the computing platform,
groupings of parcels corresponding to parcel blocks are determined. Each
parcel block has a size larger than the maximum parcel size but not
larger than a maximum parcel block size. Data identifying the groupings
and the parcels corresponding thereto are stored on the computing
platform and the data identifying the groupings and the parcels
corresponding thereto are used to access all the parcels corresponding to
a parcel block whenever geographic data in any one of the parcels are
needed.