Geographic Information Systems

GIS Data Databases

1 GIS Databases

A database is a shared collection of data with secure controlled access Data are stored independently of their applications A GIS database contains geographic data

A DBMS is a collection of software programs that facilitates the efficient and effective storage and access of data
A GIS DBMS

2 Levels of Data Abstraction

Conceptual data model - user's perception of the real world Logical data model - a formal description of the data model Physical data model - physical storage of the data (e.g., format, order, path)

Levels of Data Abstraction

Humanoriented Reality

Conceptual Model

Increasing Abstraction

Logical Model

Computeroriented

Physical Model

Levels of Data Abstraction

Conceptual Model Real World
Objects and relationships

Logical Model
Physical Model
Database Schema Diagrams And lists

Data Models

Vector data model Raster data model

courtesy: Mary Ruvane, http://ils.unc.edu/

3 Database Functions

Records, fields, and keys - a row is a record - a column is a field

3 Database Functions

Map librarian and tiles

Database Functions

Adding, updating and deleting records

Extracting information from data

Maintaining data security and integrity Supporting applications

4 Database Data Models (Logical Models)

Hierarchical data model Network data model Relational data model Object-oriented data model

4 (3) Relational Data Model

The database consists of several two dimensional tables A row is a record and a column is a field

4 can (3) Characteristics Every field be used as a key in a search A cross file search can be done by join, as long as at least one filed is common to both files A link table can be created with needed attributes, without actually taking storage space

Advantages - Flexible, no structure restrictions for search - Easy to understand - Less data redundancy

4 (3) Advantages and Disadv

Disadvantages - It can be time consuming to search matching values

Objects

4 (4) Object-Oriented Data Model

Attributes Operations

Inheritance - Data and functions are organized in a hierarchy - Objects inherit characteristics and functions of their ancestor objects
Animals
A head and a body, feed

4 (4) Object-Oriented Data Model

Mammals A head and a body, feed Four legs, sit

Fish A head and a body, feed Fins, swim

4 (4) Object-Oriented Data Model Encapsulation - Data and functions are combined in one object

4 and (4) aggregation Object-Oriented Association

Inhabitation Habitat Fish inhabitant location: time: weight: habitat location: time: prey biomass: temperature:

Data Model

Aquatic System location: time: predator weight: prey biomass: temperature:

Advantages - Easy for modeling and the representation is close to human perception - Reduce the complexity of software development

4 (4) Advantages and Disadv

Disadvantages

Uses an enriched set of graphic element types on top of the three basic types of points, lines, and polygons

4 (4) Object-Relational Databases

Object-Relational Databases two levels of geometries: features geometry, and

components of features geometry

features geometry

components

Spatial Types OGC Simple Features

Geometry

SpatialReferenceSystem

Composed Type Relationship

Point

Curve

Surface

GeometryCollection

LineString

Polygon

MultiSurface

MultiCurve

MultiPoint

Line

LinearRing

MultiPolygon

MultiLineString

Object-Relational Databases

Readings

Chapter 3

Object-Oriented and ObjectRelational GIS DBMS

Object-oriented (OODBMS) - Based on OO concept to store state and of GIS objects in databases - Provide OO query tools - Commercially not successful

behavior

Object-Relational (ORDBMS) - Extend RDMS to handle GIS objects - Current Geographic Databases are ORDBMS

Relational (RDBMS) RDMS is the most popular type of DBMS

Main Types of DBMS in GIS

Over 95% of data in DBMS is in RDBMS DB2; SQL Server, Access; Oracle; Informix

A relational database comprises tables, a twodimensional row, column structure. Each single table stores an object class.

Rows contain objects Columns contain object properties or attributes Data stored in intersection of row and column is value

1. Components of Geographic Data

Conceptual model Human-oriented, conceptual description of the main types of objects and processes relevant to a problem domain e.g. objects/fields Logical model Implementation oriented, but implementationindependent representation of reality; Often in the form of diagrams and lists e.g. Raster/vector Physical model The actual application in a GIS; describe the exact files or database tables E.g. A shapefile is composed of a .shp file for geometry, .dbf for attributes

Feature

Feature has state, behavior, and relationships with other objects and features

State: geometry and other attributes Behavior: default values, attribute domains, subtypes, split/merge policy, relationship rules, topology rules, connectivity rules Relationships: thematic relationships and topology

Stored in feature datasets and feature classes.

Object class

An object class is a regular database table in a geodatabase. A collection of features with the same type of geometry An object class with a geometry, each row is a feature.

Feature class