MOUNT ZION COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND

TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

OGI352 GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM

VII – SEMESTER
UNIT-2 SPATIAL DATA MODELS
K. ROJA, AP/CIVIL

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 COURSE OUTCOMES
• Able to explain the basic concepts, principles, and
components of GIS
• Provide an introduction to the fundamental concepts,
principles, and applications of GIS technology.
• Develop proficiency in performing basic spatial analysis
operations such as buffering, overlay analysis, and spatial
querying using GIS software.
• Gain the ability to acquire, format, and manage spatial data
from different sources (e.g., GPS, remote sensing) and in
various formats (e.g., vector, raster).

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 COURSE OBJECTIVE
• The main objectives collectively aim to equip
students with a solid foundation in GIS theory,
practical skills, and critical thinking abilities
necessary for applying GIS in various professional
and academic contexts.

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 COURSE OUTLINE
• 2.1 Data base Structure
• 2.2 Relational and Object oriented data structure model
• 2.3 Entities ER Diagram
• 2.4 Data Models
• 2.5 Raster Data Structure And Compression
• 2.6 Vector Data Structure
• 2.7 Raster Data Model Vs Vector Data Model
• 2.8 Triangulated Irregular Network (Tin)
• 2.9 Grid Data Model

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 TOPICS
• Previous class topics
• Scale of measurement

• To day’s class
• 2.1 Data base Structure

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2.1

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 2.1
INTRODUCTION
• Spatial data are what drive a GIS.
• Spatial data are often referred to as layers, coverage’s,
or layers. We will use the term layers from this point
on, since this is the recognized term used in Arc-GIS.
• Layers represent, in a special digital storage format,
features on, above, or below the surface of the earth.
• a) Vector data represent features as discrete points,
lines, and polygons.
• b) Raster data represent the landscape as a rectangular
matrix of square cells.
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 2.1 Data Structure
• A data structure is a specialized format for
organizing, processing, retrieving and storing
data.

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 2.1 DATABASE STRUCTURES
• A GIS database is a collection of spatial data that stores
information about the shapes and locations of geographic
features.
• The data can be recorded as points, lines, areas, pixels,
grid cells, or TINs. The database also includes attributes
for the data.
• GIS databases can be used for a variety of purposes, such
as map production and market analysis.
• They allow users to enter, edit, retrieve, analyze, map,
and visualize spatial data.

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 2.1 DATABASE STRUCTURES
• The two basic data structures in any fully-functional GIS are:
Vector, e.g,
• ArcInfo Coverages
• ArcGIS Shape Files
• CAD (AutoCAD DXF & DWG, or Micro Station DGN files)
• ASCII coordinate data
Raster, e.g,
• ArcInfo Grids
• Images
Digital Elevation Models (DEMs)
• generic raster datasets

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 2.1 DATA STRUCTURE MODELS
• Data models are the conceptual models that
describe the structures of databases.
• The structure of a database is defined by the data
types, the constraints and the relationships for the
description or storage of data. Following are the
most often used data models:
• 1) Hierarchical Data Structure Model
• 2) Network Data Structure Model
• 3) Relational Data Structure Model
• 4) Object Oriented Data Structure Model
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2.1

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 2.1 Examples
• File System: The file system in operating systems often uses
a hierarchical model. The root directory contains
subdirectories, which in turn contain files or more
subdirectories.
• Organizational Chart: In a company, the hierarchy might
start with the CEO at the top, followed by various senior
managers, middle managers, and employees, each level
representing a different layer of authority and responsibility.
• XML and JSON: These data formats use hierarchical
structures to represent nested data. For example, an XML
document might have nested elements and attributes that
describe a hierarchical relationship.
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 Data model should meet the following
criteria
• Generality: Data model should have feature to
support a variety of data bases and suitable
for range of application such as thematic
mapping, land inventory and topographic
mapping.
• Simplicity: Simplicity decides the efficiency
and reliability of geographic data and
algorithms. It should be as simple to meet the
expectations.
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• Efficiency: The data model should implement geo-
processing tool efficiently without conversion of
data into particular format.
• Adaptability: The data model should meet the
requirements of simple user to system
programmer.
• Freedom from Restrictions: The model should be
free from most of the limitation in terms of size or
content. Handling of small to large dataset should
be well.
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2.1

Hierarchical Data Structure Model

• A Hierarchical Data Structure Model organizes
data in a tree-like structure, where each item
(or node) has a single parent and potentially
many children. This model is useful for
representing data with a clear, parent-child
relationship.
• Easy to understand: The organization of
database parallels a family tree understanding
which is quite easy.
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2.1

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 Network Data Structure Model
2.1

• A network is a generalized graph that captures

relationships between objects using connectivity.
• A network database consists of a collection of
records that are connected to each other through
links. A link is an association between two
records.
• It allows each record to have many parents and
many children thus allowing a natural model of
relationships between entities.
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2.2

Relational Data Structure Model

• The relational data model was introduced by Codd in
1970. The relational database relates or connects data in
different files through the use of a common field.
• A flat file structure is used with a relational database
model. In this arrangement, data is stored in different
tables made up of rows and columns.
• The columns of a table are named by attributes. Each row
in the table is called a tuple and represents a basic fact.
• No two rows of the same table may have identical values
in all columns.

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• Geo-relational data structure stores vector
data for a geographic coverage which includes
it’s spatial and attribute component.
• Spatial data describes the location of spatial
features, whereas attribute data describes the
characteristic of spatial features.
• Geo-relational data structure organizes the
data into split system which means it stores
• Spatial data (Geo) into graphic files
• Attribute data into relational data base

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2.2

• Advantages
The manager or administrator does not have to
be aware of any data structure or data pointer.
One can easily add, update, delete or create
records using simple logic.
• Disadvantages
A few search commands in a relational
database require more time to process compared
with other database models.
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2.2

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2.2

Applications
• Transactional Systems: Commonly used in systems
requiring reliable transaction processing, such as
banking and e-commerce.
• Business Applications: Suitable for applications that
need structured data storage and complex querying
capabilities, like Customer Relationship Management
(CRM) systems and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
systems.
• Data Warehousing: Used for storing and analyzing
large volumes of structured data for reporting and
analytics.
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2.2

Object Oriented Database Structure

• An Object Oriented model uses functions to
model spatial and non-spatial relationships of
geographic objects and the attributes.
• An object is an encapsulated unit which is
characterized by attributes, a set of
orientations and rules.

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2.2

characteristics
• Generic Properties: there should be an
inheritance relationship.
• Abstraction: objects, classes and super classes
are to be generated by classification,
generalization, association and aggregation.
• Adhoc Queries: users can order spatial
operations to obtain spatial relationships of
geographic objects using a special language.

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2.2

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2.2

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2.2

Applications
• CAD/CAM Systems: Often used in computer-aided design
and manufacturing where complex data structures are
common.
• Multimedia Databases: Suitable for handling multimedia
data like images, video, and audio, which are inherently
complex and hierarchical.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Used to manage
spatial data with complex relationships and structures.
• Complex Business Applications: Ideal for applications
requiring complex data modeling, such as financial services
and telecommunications.
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 REFERENCE
• https://
turbofuture.com/computers/Basic-Conceptsin
-Geographic-Information-Systems

• https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH2-xwUz3tU

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