Assignment 1

30-sep-2019

Advance Geographic Information System

Assignment topic

Difference between Georelational Data model

and object based data model
Assignment 1
30-sep-2019

Vector data model has two kinds of data models:

i. Georelational data model
ii. Object based data model
The Georelational data model has been used for many years in GIS, but now
Object-Based data model is more popular in GIS world.
The object-based data model differs from the georelational data model in two
important aspects. First, the object-based data model stores geometries and
attributes in a single system. Second, the object-based data model allows a spatial
feature (object) to be associated with a set of properties and methods.
GeoRelational Data Model:
The georelational data model stores geometries and attributes separately in a split
system: geometries (“geo”) in graphic files in a spatial subsystem and attributes
(“relational”) in a relational database. (Intro to GIS by Kang-Tusng-Chang)
It uses a unique feature identification number (ID) to link both components. To
present both components their synchronization is compulsory.
Examples of Georelational data model are
i. The coverage ii. The shapefile
The Coverage:
It was introduced in 1980s by ESRI. The purpose was the separation of GIS form
CAD. The reason was that CAD do not support topology while the Coverage
supports it.
The coverage supports these three topological relationships. (Intro to GIS by Kand-
Tsung-Chang)
i. Connectivity: Arcs connect to each other at nodes.
ii. Area definition: An area is defined by a series of connected arcs.
iii. Contiguity: Arcs have directions and left and right polygons.
The Shapefile:
The Shapefile is a standard non-topological data format used in ESRI products.
The geometry of a shapefile is stored in two basic files:
The .shp file stores the feature geometry, and
Assignment 1
30-sep-2019

The .shx file maintains the spatial index of the feature geometry.
Non-topological data such as shapefiles have two main advantages. First, they can
display more rapidly on the computer monitor than topology based data (Theobald
2001). This advantage is particularly important for people who use, rather than
produce, GIS data. Second, they are nonproprietary and interoperable, meaning
that they can be used across different software packages.
Object-Based Data Model:
The latest entry in vector data models, the object based data model treats geospatial
data as objects.
An object can represent a spatial feature such as a road, a timber stand, or a
hydrologic unit. An object can also represent a road layer or the coordinate system
on which the road layer is based.
Some examples of Object-Based data model are given below.
I. Classes and Class relationships:
The objects represented in GIS are managed by classes and class relationships. A
Class is a set of objects with similar characteristics.
II. Interface:
An interface represents a set of externally visible operations of a class or object.
Object-based technology uses a mechanism called encapsulation to hide the
properties and methods of an object so that the object can be accessed only through
the predefined interfaces.

References:
The material of this assignment is taken by Intro to GIS by Kang-Tsung-Chang
9th.Edition.