Modeling and Representing

Geographic Situation and

GIS Database Design
Nama Raj Budhathoki, Ph.D.

Model can be in different forms

Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

Dictionary meaning of Model

Miniature representation of an object,
system, process or phenomena so that
its certain aspects of interest can be
analyzed/studied
Can be picture, mathematical, physical,
diagram or other

Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

Geospatial Data Modeling

Process of extracting and representing
geospatial objects or phenomena in
relation to their location in geographic
space and time
This process influences the type of
questions a GIS can answer

Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

Paper Map as a Model of Real World

Data capture

Representation

Visualization

Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

But..Paper Map is an inefficient

model of Real World
Difficult to change and
analyze information
Fixed scale
Require large storage space
High back up, production,
reproduction and transfer
cost
Features in map fade over
time and use
Shrinkage brings
measurement inaccuracies
Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

GIS and digital technologies

Digital technologies overcome many of the
limitations of paper maps
Offer a number of additional functionalities
However, computers need precise
instructions on how to handle information
about the real world objects and phenomena

Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

How can we represent such a

complex world in the computer?

Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

Two Views
Discrete Objects with
clear boundary, shape
and size (Land parcels,
buildings, roads etc.)

Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

Continuous phenomena
(Elevation, temperature,
pollution etc.)

Geospatial Data Models

We use different models to
represent two views of
geospatial phenomena: Feature
(vector) for discrete objects and
Field (Raster) for continuous
phenomena

Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

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Stages of Geospatial Data Modeling

Real
world

Human World (Real World)

Extraction of
the real world
Representation
in the computer
Computer World (Virtual World)
(0 s and 1 s)
Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

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Different Levels of Data Modeling

Real
world

Conceptual Modeling

What to
extract?

Logical Modeling
Physical Modeling

Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

How to represent and

store in computer?

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Conceptual Data Model

Certain concept (domain) is used to
selectively extract the real world from its
infinite complexity.
Consists of the following steps (Zeiler
1999):
Model the user and use view
Define entities and their relationships
Identify representation of entities

Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

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Conceptual Date Model:

Model use and user s view

Identify the functions GIS is to support

eg. Land Use Planning
Identify the data required to support to
these functions
eg. Land Records, Environmental data,
Transportation data
Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

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Conceptual Model:
Define and describe entities

Identify entities
Entities are distinguishable objects;
Something about which data is kept

Describe entities
Attributes associated with an entity
Key Attribute - uniquely identify an entity

Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

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Conceptual Model:
Identify relationships and attributes

Identify and describe relationships

among these entities
One-to-One (1:1)
One-to-Many (1:N)
Many-to-Many (N:M)

Document the entities and

relationships in diagram (ERD)
Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

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Diagrammatic Example of Land

Records
More on Next Week

Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

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Conceptual Model:
Identify representation of entities

Point
Line
Area
Raster
Image
Surface
Object

Discrete Features

Continuous Phenomena
Terrain
Non-geographic entity

Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

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Summary

Data capture
Data storage
and management

Database

Data Visualization
Nama Raj Budhathoki Apex GIS course - 2014

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