map algorithm question

[Lou Lipnickey]

I am working on an application which draws maps on a screen. This is
done with using sets of x,y coordinates which are made into polygons and
then drawn in a paintComponent. The user now wants to add elevation (a
"z" component). The question at hand is how to quickly index into a data
structure to find an elevation point based on the mouse location (x,y)
of the screen. Currently, polygon.contains(x,y) is used. I was hoping
that someone might either relate how they might have done something
similar or a pointer to reference. Thanks - Lou

[Oliver Wong]

"Lou Lipnickey" <lo***********@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:Fc*****************@newsread1.news.atl.earthl ink.net...

I am working on an application which draws maps on a screen. This is done
with using sets of x,y coordinates which are made into polygons and then
drawn in a paintComponent. The user now wants to add elevation (a "z"
component). The question at hand is how to quickly index into a data
structure to find an elevation point based on the mouse location (x,y) of
the screen. Currently, polygon.contains(x,y) is used. I was hoping that
someone might either relate how they might have done something similar or a
pointer to reference. Thanks - Lou

The z component is associated with every polygon, or with every vertex
or what?

- Oliver