National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Conceptual Modeling of Geographic Databases - Emphasis on Relationships among Geographic Databases Anders Friis-Christensen National Survey and Cadastre

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Outline Geographic data -Conceptual foundation Conceptual modeling -What and why Modeling geographic data Modeling multiple representations Summary

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Geographic data (1) Data where spatial and temporal aspects are important for the intended applications Applications: -The spatial aspects appear as regions, lines, and points, and changes occur discretely across time Topographic, cadastral, and network applications -The continuously changing spatial aspects Environmental applications and location-based services

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark

Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Geographic data (2) A geographic object has: -A spatial attribute value, which specifies the location in space Its data type can be, e.g., a polygon or a point -Thematic attribute values, which specify thematic properties Any data type (non-spatial data types) -Temporal attribute values, which specify temporal properties: Valid time, vt, which specifies when something is valid. E.g., the color of a building was white from Existence time, et, which specifies when something exists. E.g., a building has existed from 1900-present Transaction time, tt, which specifies when something is being recorded as current in a database. E.g., in Aug we record that John Doe was the owner of a building from Mar to present. tt is (Aug, 2000, today), vt (Mar, 2000, today)

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Geographic data (3) Associations among geographic objects: -Topological, e.g., that an address point is inside a building -Metric, e.g., that a building is less than 10 meters from a road -Part-whole associations, e.g., that a county consist of several municipalities Constraints on geographic objects: -Constraints on objects. E.g., the size of an building may not be smaller than 25 sqm -Constraints on associations. Eg., one object should be inside another -Most model elements imply constraints, e.g., the data type of attributes

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Conceptual Data Models (1) The idealization of the world to be described A way to organize and structure data Common conceptual data models can: -Support an Infrastructure for Geographic data, e.g., based on the work by ISO TC211 -Support reuse of solutions and designs (design patterns) -Solve the problem of interoperability (exchange and querying of data) -Give a clear overview and understanding of a given application (non-technical) -Be used as a language between users, domain experts and developers -Be modified and maintained easily -Be used as a documenting tool

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Conceptual Data Models (2) Conceptual data models describe: -Object classes and their properties -Associations among object classes -Possible constraints on objects and attribute values Conceptual data models are: -Independent of later implementation Conceptual modeling notations: -Entity Relationship Model (E/R) -The Unified Modeling Language (UML)

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, System’s Development Context Universe of Discourse DBMS- specific DBMS- independent Requirements Conceptual Schema Conceptual Data Modeling Data Model Mapping Physical Design Logical Schema Internal Schema

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Example An example in UML:

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Modeling Approaches (1) It is instructive to distinguish between two different approaches to providing better support for conceptual modeling of geographic data One approach is to extend the base notation -Spatio-temporal concepts are given special syntax -This makes for more compact diagrams -The modeling notation becomes more complex Another approach is to not extend base notation -With this approach, a library of generic diagrams is offered -“Patterns” can be identified -Diagrams remain complex -Existing design and transformation tools are applicable

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Modeling Approaches (2) One sub-approach of the extension approach is to introduce spatio-temporal annotations into the base notation: -In UML, which is extensible, stereotypes may be defined A two-step design process can been advocated for the annotation approach: -First, a diagram is designed that models the universe of discourse without taking into account the spatial and temporal aspects of the universe of discourse -Second, the diagram resulting from the first step is annotated with spatio-temporal annotations Stereotypes: -Are used to define new semantics to existing model elements -Notation: > or as an icon -Example:

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Modeling Geographic Data Example using extensions: Stereotypes > = Temporal dependent spatial object

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Modeling Geographic Data (2) Underlying Spatial Model: Open GIS Consortium geometry model:

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Modeling Geographic Data (3) DBMSs (e.g., MySQL and Oracle) have adopted and implemented the OGC geometry model This means that we can map the spatial extension of the conceptual model directly to a logical and physical model No standardized model has been adopted for temporal aspects (several different implementations exist)

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Outline Geographic data Conceptual modeling Modeling geographic data Modeling multiple representations -What it is and requirements -Conceptual modeling approach to integrate data -Multiple representation schema language Summary

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Multiple representation is when several databases describe the same entity The reasons for multiple representation vary -Different approaches in data collection -Different application purposes / definitions -Varying levels of detail (multi-scale) Multiple Representation of Geographic Entities

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Real-world entity Motivation Universe of discourse DB 1 DB 3 DB 2 Integration of data: -May support new potential use of data for various analysis purposes (e.g., integration of register and map data) -Can be used to rationalize the production of data Integration depends on: - Definitions/semantics - Data models/structures - Varying levels quality Applications 1 Applications 2 Applications 3 Road Topographic Road Networked Road

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Example (Multi-Scale) Topographic Map 1:50,000

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Example (Multi-Scale) Topographic Map 1:10,000

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Example (Different Definitions)

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Problems today -Inconsistencies may occur among these multiple representations -Less concern is given to the fact that data change -Maintaining spatial data is costly Benefits of a solution to handle MR -Reduce the cost of maintaining multiple representations of an entity -Ensure that users are working with updated representations -Possible integration of data comming from different sources Multiple Representation of Geographic Entities

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Requirements An effective approach to the management of MR among legacy systems is needed Several requirements exist. We need to be able to: -Specify consistency, matching, and restoration rules -Evaluate consistency rules with respect to a multiply represented entity -Match r-objects located in different representation databases -Monitor the representation databases for changes -Restore consistency if inconsistency occurs -Translate the specification into a database schema -Keep the various legacy GISs autonomous

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Introducing an i-class has several advantages –No change in representation databases –A simple approach to describe complex correspondence scenarios –A logical abstraction of an entity –Consistency, matching, and restoration requirements can be expressed in a single class The MRSL is based on an ”Integration Class” (i-class), which abstracts the entity represented Object correspondences (OCs) Value correspondences (VCs) Multiple Representation Schema Language Matching rules Restoration rules Existing classes in different databases, which we want to keep mutually consistent VC OC

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, The i-class is the main element in the MRSL and contains: -Attributes which are common for the r-classes -Consistency, matching, and restoration rules -Operations to restore consistency and match objects A new stereotype is defined >, which specifies that a class: -Is defined within an integration database schema -Is associated to at least two representation classes -Should be identified uniquely -Has extra specification compartments for VCs, matching rules, restoration rules Integration Class in MRSL

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Consistency Rules The consistency rules consist of: -Object correspondences (OCs), which specify existence dependencies between the i-object and its r-objects -Value correspondences (VCs), which specify value (attribute) dependencies between the i-object and its r- objects

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Consistency Rules (OC) A new stereotype > is defined for the OC: -It is always binary (either connects and i-class with a r- class or connects two i-classes) -Its navigation is always from the i-class to the r-class -It can be a master, i.e., the associated r-class controls the instances -It is represented as a dash-dotted line

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Consistency Rules (VC) In UML the VCs are specified in a specification compartment and as initial values of i- attributes

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, The matching rules specify how to find corresponding objects from different representation databases The following matching criteria can be used: -Attribute comparison, e.g., spatial -Global object identifier -Manual inspection Matching Rules

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Matching Process Create i-object No i-object i-object id Find r-object Use lookup or matching function Find i-object Lookup i-object id / r-objects id Modify r-object / Establish correspondence r-object id Example: Matching Rules: mr1: br.location inside tm.shape

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Restoration Rules The restoration rules specify the restoration actions that need to be applied when an OC or VC is not satisfied The restoration rules follow the principle of event- condition-action (ECA) rules

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Restoration Process Object matching r-object id Check OC i-object id / r-objects id Restoration false Check VC true Event false Insert, update, delete, or notification

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Restoration Rules Example: Restoration Rules: rr1: on insert tm then insert br {immediate}, rr2: on update tm.shape if not v1 then placeInside(br.location){immediate} v1: br.location inside shape

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Complete Schema

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Nordic Forum for Geo-statistics — March 25-26, Summary An overview of geographic data Different conceptual modeling approaches Standardized conceptual models support -Standardized logical models and implementations -Integration and exchange of data Extensions can be used to satisfy those requirements posed by: -Geographic data in general -Multiple representations of geographic entities Extensions are solutions to capture special semantics

National Survey and Cadastre – Denmark Thank you for your attention! ???Questions???