Geographic Logical Database Model Requirements

An important problem of GIS technology is the proper storage and retrieval of geographic data, and the logical database model, i.e. the approach taken in specifying the structure and meaning of and the operations performed on the stored data, is fundamental to its solution. A geographic logical database model should obey all the principles of: a) syntactic database models, including file integration, controlled redundancy, unified data language, centralized access, independence, abstraction, concurrency, distribution, integrity and security; b) semantic database models, including abstract objects, relationship types, object-oriented query, knowledge incorporation, relativism and evolvability; and c) geographic data processing, including taxonomy, temporality, symbology, geometry, uncertainty, theme integration and view generalization. When such a model is provided, the design of geographic databases for sophisticated GISs will be possible.