1. A computer-implemented process for identifying all nearby neighbor objects and/or points of interest in relation to a user-specified base point which reside within a search area around the base point based on information accessed from a database of geometric data which includes the location of said objects and/or points of interest, said process comprising: using a computer to perform the following process actions: dividing the geographic system defined by said geometric data into a plurality of zones; identifying which zone each object or point in the database resides; identifying every zone intersected by the search area; identifying the nearby neighbor objects and/or points of interest in relation to a user-specified base point which reside within the search area around the base point by initially considering only those objects and/or points that are identified as residing in the zones intersected by the search area; and designating the considered objects and/or points found to reside within the search area around the base point to be nearby neighbor objects and/or points of interest.