Lifting factor maps to resolving maps

We consider Smale spaces, that is, homeomorphisms of a compact metric spaces possessing canonical coordinates of contracting (stable) and expanding (unstable) directions. Examples of such dynamical systems include the basic sets for Smale's Axiom A systems. We also assume that each point of the space is non-wandering and that there is a dense orbit. We show that any almost one-to-one factor map between two such systems may be lifted in a certain sense to a factor map which is injective on the local stable sets (i.e., s-resolving). We derive several corollaries. One is a refinement of Bowen's result that every irreducible Smale space is a factor of an irreducible shift of finite type by an almost one-to-one factor map. We are able to show that there exists such a factor which is the composition of an s-resolving map and a u-resolving map. Supported in part by a grant from NSERC, Canada.