Abstract
A major reccuring issue in spatial databases is that of handling topological relationships. Although topology can be determined from object positions it is often explicitly stored in geographic information systems for reasons of efficiency and integrity. No formal database models for expressing topological relationships at the conceptual and logical levels are available. This paper describes such a model by defining geographic objects, geometric types, and elementary spatial operations and relationships. The model can be used to express topological integrity constraints, to define geographic object classes and to express spatial queries. Examples are given on how to use the model for the whole cycle of design and development of a geographic application, including requirements analysis, conceptual and logical modeling and implementation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Abiteboul, S. and Hull, R.: IFO: “A Formal Semantic Database Model”, ACM Transactions on Database Systems, 12, 4 (March 1987).
Egenhofer, M. and Herring, J.: “A Mathematical Framework for the Definitions of Topological Relationships”, in: Brazzel and Kishimoto, 4th International Symposium on Spatial Data Handling, pp 803–813, Zurich, Switzerland, July 1990.
ESRI: “Understanding GIS —The Arc/Info Method”, Environmental System Research Institute, California (1990).
Hadzilacos, T. and Dedousi, I.; “Design of a Forest Fire Management System”, Proceedings of the 3nd European Conference on Geographical Information Systems (EGIS'92), Munich, Germany, 23–26 March 1992.
Hadzilacos, T. and Tryfona N.: “A Conceptual Schema for Geographic Databases”, Proceedings of the 2nd European Conference on Geographical Information Systems (EGIS'91), Brussels, Belgium. 2–5 April 1991.
Kasturi, Fernadez, Amlani and Feng: “Map Data Processing in Geographic Information Systems”, IEEE Computer Magazine, (Dec 1989).
Nierstrasz, O.: “A survey of Object-Oriented Concepts”, in Object-Oriented Concepts, Databases and Applications, W. Kim and F. Lochovsky (eds), ACM Press, 1989.
Oosterom, P. and Vijlbrief, T.: “Building a GIS on the top of the open DBMS POSTGRES”, Proceedings of the 2nd European Conference on Geographical Information Systems (EGIS'91), Brussels, Belgium, 2–5 April 1991.
Oxborrow, E., Kemp, Z.: “An Object-Oriented Approach to the Management of Geographical Data”, UK North West Regional Research Laboratory's Conference Managing Geographical Information Systems and Databases, U.K, (Sept 1989).
Pelagatti, G., Belussi, A., Negri, M., Rossi, M., Sbatella, L.: “Design and Implementation of a Geographic Information System: the Case of Regione Lombardia”, Proceedings of the 2nd European Conference on Geographical Information Systems (EGIS'91), Brussels, Belgium, 2–5 April 1991.
Scholl, M. and Voissard, A.: “Object-Oriented Database Systems for Geographic Applications: an Experiment with O 2”, in The Story of O 2 (1991).
Spooner, R.: “Advantages and Problems in the Creation and Use of a Topologically Structured Database”, Seminar on Photogrammetry and Land Information Systems, Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne, Switzerland, (March 1989).
Stefanopoulou, M.: “Database Design for Water Utility Management” (in greek), Department of Computer Engineering, University Patras, Greece (1991).
Tryfona, N.: “Geographic Database Design: Principles and a Cadastral Application” (in greek), Department of Computer Engineering, University Patras, Greece (1991).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Hadzilacos, T., Tryfona, N. (1992). A model for expressing topological integrity constraints in geographic databases. In: Frank, A.U., Campari, I., Formentini, U. (eds) Theories and Methods of Spatio-Temporal Reasoning in Geographic Space. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 639. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-55966-3_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-55966-3_15
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-55966-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-47333-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive