Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

OMT-G: An Object-Oriented Data Model for Geographic Applications

  • Published:
GeoInformatica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Semantic and object-oriented data models, such as ER, OMT, IFO, and others, have been extensively used for modeling geographic applications. Despite their semantic expressiveness, such models present limitations to adequately model those applications, since they do not provide appropriate primitives for representing spatial data. This paper presents OMT-G, an object oriented data model for geographic applications. OMT-G provides primitives for modeling the geometry and the topology of spatial data, supporting different topological structures, multiple views of objects, and spatial relationships. OMT-G also includes tools to specify transformation processes and presentation alternatives, that allow, among many other possibilities, modeling for multiple representations and multiple presentations. In this way, it overcomes the main limitations of the existing models, thus providing more adequate tools for modeling geographic applications. A comparison with other data models is also presented in order to stress the main advantages of OMT-G.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. S. Abiteboul and R.H. Richard. “IFO: a formal semantic database model,” ACM Transactions on Database Systems, Vol. 12(4):525–565, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  2. G. Abrantes and R. Carapuça. “Explicit representation of data that depend on topological relationships and control over data consistency,” in Proc. Fifth European Conference and Exhibition on Geographical Information Systems—EGIS/MARI'94, Vol. 1:869–877, 1994. (wwwsgi.ursus.maine.edu/gisweb/egis/eg94100.html)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Y. Bédard, C. Caron, Z. Maamar, B. Moulin, and D. Valliére. “Adapting data models for the design of spatio-temporal databases,” Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, Vol. 20(1):19–41, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  4. K.A.V. Borges and F.T. Fonseca. “Geographic data modeling in discussion,” in Proc. GIS Brasil'96, 525–532, 1996. In Portuguese.

  5. K.A.V. Borges, A.H.F. Laender, and C.A. Davis Jr. “Spatial data integrity constraints in object oriented geographic data modeling,” in Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Advances in Geographic Information Systems (ACM GIS'99), 1–6, 1999.

  6. K.A.V. Borges. “Geographic data modeling—an extension of the OMT model for geographic applications,” Master's thesis, João Pinheiro Foundation, Minas Gerais Government School, 1997. In Portuguese.

  7. M.A. Botelho “Incorporating spatio-temporal facilities to object-oriented database management systems,” Master's thesis, DCC-UNICAMP, 1995. In Portuguese.

  8. G. Camara, U. Freitas, R. Souza, M. Casanova, A. Hemerly, and C. Medeiros. “A model to cultivate objects and manipulate fields,” in Proc. 2nd ACM Workshop on Advances in GIS, 20–28, 1994.

  9. G. Camara. “Models, languages, and architectures for geographic databases,” Ph.D. Thesis, INPE, 1995. In Portuguese.

  10. C. Caron and Y. Bédard. “Extending the individual formalism for a more complete modeling of urban spatially referenced data.” Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, Vol. 17:337–346, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  11. P. Chen. “The entity-relationship model—toward a unified view of data,” ACM Transactions on Database Systems, Vol. 1(1):9–36, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  12. E. Clementini, P. Felice, and P. Oosterom. “A small set of formal topological relationships suitable for end-user interaction,“ in Proc. 3rd Symposium on Spatial Database Systems, 277–295, 1993.

  13. P. Coad and E. Yourdon. Object-Oriented Analysis, 2nd edition. Prentice Hall, 1991.

  14. S. Cockcroft. “A taxonomy of spatial data integrity constraints,” GeoInformatica, Vol. 1(4):327–343, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  15. C.A. Davis Jr. “Multiple representations in geographic information systems,” Ph.D. Thesis, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 2000. In Portuguese.

    Google Scholar 

  16. C.A. Davis Jr. and A.H.F. Laender. “Multiple representations in GIS: materialization through geometric, map generalization, and spatial analysis operations,” in Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Advances in Geographic Information Systems (ACM GIS'99), 60–65, 1999.

  17. M.J. Egenhofer and R.D. Franzosa. “Point-set topological spatial relations,” International Journal of Geographical Information Systems, Vol. 5(2):161–174, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  18. M.J. Egenhofer and J. Herring. “A mathematical framework for the definition of topological relationships,” in Proc. 4th International Symposium on Spatial Data Handling, 803–813, 1990.

  19. R. Elmasri and S. Navathe. Fundamentals of database systems. 2nd Edition. Addison-Wesley, 1994.

  20. M. Feutchwanger. “Towards a geographic semantic data model,” Ph.D. thesis, Simon Fraser University, 1993.

  21. A.U. Frank. “Qualitative spatial reasoning: cardinal directions as an example,” International Journal of Geographical Information Systems, Vol. 10(3):269–290, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  22. A.U. Frank and M.F. Goodchild. “Two perspectives on geographical data modeling,” National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA). Technical Report 90–11, 1990.

  23. J. Freeman. “The modelling of spatial relations,” Computer Graphics and Image Processing, Vol. 4:156–171, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  24. M.F. Goodchild. “Geographical data modeling,” Computers & Geosciences, 18(4):401–408, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  25. K.K. Kemp. “Environmental modeling with GIS: A strategy for dealing with spatial continuity,” Ph.D. thesis, University of California at Santa Barbara, 1992.

  26. G. Kösters, B. Pagel, and H. Six. “GIS-application development with GeoOOA,” International Journal of Geographical Information Science, Vol. 11(4):307–335, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  27. A.H.F. Laender and D.J. Flynn. “A semantic comparison of modelling capabilities of the ER and NIAM models,” in, R. Elmasri, V. Kouramajian, and B. Thalheim (Eds.) Entity-Relationship Approach—ER'93, 242–256, Springer-Verlag, 1994.

  28. J. Lisboa Filho. “Conceptual data models for geographic information systems,” Technical Report EQ-12, UFRGS, 1997. In Portuguese.

  29. J. Lisboa Filho and C. Iochpe. “Comparative analysis of conceptual data models for geographic information systems,” Technical Report RP-266, UFRGS, 1996. In Portuguese.

  30. D.M. Mark, M.J. Egenhofer, and A.R.M. Shariff. “Towards a standard for spatial relations in SDTS and geographic information systems,” in Proc. GIS/LIS'95, 686–695, 1995.

  31. D.M. Mark and A.U. Frank. “Language issues for geographical information systems,” National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA), Technical Report 90–10, 1990.

  32. R.B. McMaster and K.S. Shea. Generalization in Digital Cartography, Association of American Geographers, 1992.

  33. J.C. Müller, R. Weibel, J.P. Lagrange, and F. Salgé. “Generalization: state of art and issues,” in J.C. Müller, J.P. Lagrange, and R. Weibel (Eds.) GIS and generalization: methodology and practice, 3–17, Taylor & Francis, 1995.

  34. J.L. Oliveira, F. Pires, and C.M.B. Medeiros. “An environment for modeling and design of geographic applications,” GeoInformatica, Vol. 1(1):29–58, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  35. D. Papadias and Y. Theodoridis. “Spatial relations, minimum bounding rectangles, and spatial data structures,” International Journal of Geographical Information Science, Vol. 11(2):111–138, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  36. D.J. Peuquet. “A conceptual framework and comparison of spatial data models,” Cartographica, Vol. 21:666–113, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  37. “Rational Software Corporation,” The Unified Language. Notation guide, version 1.1 July 1997. (http://www.rational.com).

  38. A. Renolen. “Conceptual modelling and spatiotemporal information systems: How to model the real world,” in Proc. 6th Scandinavian Research Conference on GIS (SCANGIS'97), 1997. (http://www.iko.unit.no/home/agnar)

  39. J. Rumbaugh, M. Blaha, W. Premerlani, F. Eddy, and W. Lorensen. Object-Oriented Modeling and Design, Prentice-Hall, 1991.

  40. J. Rumbaugh. OMT Insights: Perspectives on Modeling from the Journal of Object-Oriented Programming. SIGS Books, 1996. 390 pp.

  41. S. Shekhar, M. Coyle, B. Goyal, D. Liu, and S. Sarkar. “Data models in geographic information systems,” in Communications of the ACM, Vol. 40(4):103–111, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  42. H. Tardieu, A. Rochfeld, and R. Colletti. La Méthode Merisc: Principes et Outils, Tome I. Les Éditions d'Organisation, 1986.

  43. M.F. Worboys. “A unified model for spatial and temporal information,” The Computer Journal, Vol. 37(1):26–34, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  44. M.F. Worboys, H.M. Hearnshaw, and D.J. Maguire. “Object-oriented data modelling for spatial databases,” International Journal of Geographical Information Systems, Vol. 4(4):369–383, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Empresa de Informática e Informação do Município de Belo Horizonte, PRODABEL, Av. Presidente Carlos Luz, 1275 31230-000, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Karla A.V. Borges

  2. Departamento de Ciência da Computação, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627 31270-010, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Karla A.V. Borges

  3. Empresa de Informática e Informação do Município de Belo Horizonte, PRODABEL -, Av. Presidente Carlos Luz, 1275 31230-000, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Clodoveu A. Davis

  4. Departamento de Ciência da Computação, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627 31270-010, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Alberto H.F. Laender

Authors
  1. Karla A.V. Borges
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Clodoveu A. Davis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alberto H.F. Laender
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Borges, K.A., Davis, C.A. & Laender, A.H. OMT-G: An Object-Oriented Data Model for Geographic Applications. GeoInformatica 5, 221–260 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011482030093

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011482030093

Search

Navigation