Categorical strong shape theory
The main result of the present paper is a classification theorem for finite-sheeted covering mappings over connected paracompact spaces. This theorem is a generalization of the classical classification theorem for covering mappings over a connected locally pathwise connected semi-locally 1-connected space in the finite-sheeted case. To achieve the result we use the classification theorem for overlay structures which was recently proved by S. Mardesic and V. Matijevic (Theorems 1 and 4 of [5]).
In the existing literature there are several constructions of the strong shape category of topological spaces. In the one due to Yu. T. Lisitsa and S. Mardešić [LM1-3] an essential role is played by coherent polyhedral (ANR) expansions of spaces. Such expansions always exist, because every space admits a polyhedral resolution, resolutions are strong expansions and strong expansions are always coherent. The purpose of this paper is to prove that conversely, every coherent polyhedral (ANR) expansion...