GEOGRAPHIC

INFORMATION SYSTEM
ASSIGNMENT OF UNIT 2: DATA STRUCTURE & DATA MODELS

SUBMITTED BY: KHUSBOO

TO
MR. RAKESH
1. Explain objective of GIS data model?
• Objective of GIS data model:
• A GIS data model enables a computer to represent real geographical element as graphical
element.
• Data model are often used as an aid to communication between the business people
defining the requirement for a computer system, database design, and the technical people
defining the design in response to those requirements.
• To understand about basic data structures of raster and vector data.
• To improve the efficiency of decision making process and planning.
• Computer required descriptive information and instruction to turn the spatial entities into
graphical form.
2. What is GIS data model?
• A geographic data model,or geospatial data model in the context of geographic information
system is a mathematical and digital structure for representing phenomenon over earth.
• Generally such data model represent various aspect of these phenomenon by mean of
geographic data, including spatial locations, Attributes, changes over time, and identity.
• For example the vector data model represents geography as a collection of point, line and
Polygon and raster data model represents geography as cell matrices that store numeric values.
• Data model are implemented throughout GIS ecosystem, including the software tools for data
management, and spatial analysis, data stored in a variety of GIS file format, specifications and
standards design for GIS installation.
• While the unique nature of spatial information has lead to its own set of model structures, much
of the process of data modelling is similar to the rest of information technology, including the
progress from conceptual models to logical models to physical models and the difference
between generic model and application specific designs.
3. Explain GIS data types.

GIS data

Spatial Non- Spatial

TIN
Raster Vector (Triangular Attributes
Irregular Network)

Grids/ Images POINT LINE POLYGON

1. Spatial Data:
Special data is that which has physical dimension and geographical location on earth and
available in the form of map.
a) Raster Data: based on a cellular organization that divides space into a series of units. Each
unit is generally similar in size to another. Grid cell are the most common raster
representation. Feature are divided into cellular arrays and a coordinate x, y is assigned to
each cell.
b) Vector Data: the concept assumed that space is continuous rather than discrete, which given
infinite set of coordinates. A vector representation is composed of three main elements
points, lines and polygons.
i. Points: points are spatial objects with no area but can have attached attributes since
they are single set of coordinates in a coordinate space.
ii. Lines: linear spatial object made up of connected points that have no width.
iii. Polygons: Polygon are closed area that can be made up of a circuit of line segments.
2. Non- Spatial Data:
Non spatial data are descriptive information about specified spatial objects. They often have
no direct information about the spatial location but can be linked to spatial objects they
describe therefore it is known as attribute or non spatial information.
4. What is Spatial
Data?
■ SPATIAL DATA:
• Spatial data is that which has physical dimension and
geographic location on earth and available in the form of
maps.
• Spatial data stored in maps can be described by three
concepts : entity, attribute and relationship.
• By defining an entity, is a distinct spatial object. Attribute is a
description of some aspect of entity, which may be quality or
quantity in nature and relationship is the special association
among entities. They are represented by three geometrical
entities such as point line and Polygon.
• A point is a specified by location x, y in cartesian coordinate
system, align by sequence of connected points known as
vertices. The Polygon a closed area specified by a polyline
having the same starting and ending point.
 5. What is Attribute
Data?
■ ATTRIBUTE DATA:
• Attributes are descriptive information about specific spatial objects. They often
have no direct information about the spatial location but can be linked or spatial
object they describe. Therefore it is often called as attributes or non spatial or
aspatial information.
• Real world feature exists in two forms objects and phenomenon. Objects are
discrete and definite such as building park and cities etc. These two forms lead to
two district approaches.
• These are object oriented based and field based model. The model based spatial
database are termed as vector data models.
• When spatial database is structured on the field based model the basic spatial
unit are different forms of tessellations ( regular as DEM or irregular as TIN) are
termed as data model.
6. Compare vector & raster data model ?
RASTER DATA MODEL VECTOR DATA MODEL

In raster data model the focus is more in location. A Vector GIS is simply a generic name to describe a
Geographic feature are represented in grid cells or class of GIS that use the vector data structure to
pixels filled with values. describe, represent and use spatial objects.

The linear dimension of each cell defines the special A vector is a physical quantity that require both
resolution of the data, which is determined by the size magnitude and direction for its description.
of the smallest object.
The value assigned to each cell is known as the Gray The vector atom model is an object based approach to
value. Typically there are 256 grey values in raster the representation of the real world features and is
image ranging between 0 and 255. best used to represent discrete objects.

Topology relations in raster data are not very strong, if Such spatial objects have locations depicted simply as
the value of rows and columns are known, then only point, line and Polygon. There are two popular vector
the location of the neighbouring cell maybe calculated. data model : spaghetti model and topology model.

We can easily perform continuous data in raster data We can easily perform discrete data in vector data
model. model.
 7. Distinguish between Topology &
Spaghetti Models.
SPAGHETTI MODEL TOPOLOGY MODELA

Vector data that have been collected but not structured are set to be spaghetti data Topology is the branch of mathematics, based on graph theory, which deal with
model. It is also called non topological or geometric or path topological model. geometric properties and remains unchanged under certain transformation such as
bending or stretching.

It is a Direct Line by line translation of vector map. Each entity becomes a logical The characteristic of this model is that it explicitly records adjacency information
record in the digital file and is defined as string of X, Y coordinates. among spacial entities like points, lines and polygons

The data storage and access is sequential, date search time is often long. Mathematical topology assumes that geographic feature occur on a two
dimensional plane. Through planer enforcement, special features can be
represented through nodes, edges, sometimes called arcs or polygons.

The special relationship between the features are not retained. All the information Topology is one of the most useful relationships maintained in many special
necessary to draw a map is in a place, but is randomly organised. databases.

It store graphical elements note the graphical entities. Topological data model best reflect the geography of the real world and provide an
effective mathematical foundation for Spacial relationship.
8. What is Database?
• Collection of raw facts and figures is known as data. Data can be represented in the
form of numbers, alphabets and symbols which can be stored in computer’s
language.
• A depository of logically related and similar data are called database.
• An organised collection of related information, so that it can be easily accessed
managed and updated.
• Examples: Dictionary, Airline Database, Student Database, Library.
9. What is Database Management System
(DBMS)?
• The database is a collection of files that contain interrelated information . It has an intended group
of users and a definite application. And accepted features of data in a database is that different
users can share them.
• The database management system is a program that lets the user, add delete and modify records
in the database.
• Hence the database management system is a is a general purpose software that facilitates the
purpose of defining, constructing and manipulating database for different applications.
• A database management system allows the user to deal with data without needing to know how the
data are physically stored and structured in the computers.
• DBMS were used for handling map attribute data, but later for handling digital cartographic data
also. Many DBMS provide a user interface consisting for some sort of formal language.
• A data definition language (DDL) is used to specify which data will be stored in the database
and how they are related.
• A data manipulation language (DML) is used to add, retrieve, update, and delete data in the
database management system.
• A query is often taken as a statement or group of statements in either a DDL or a DML or
both.
10. Explain about the types of DBMS structure.
■ Types of database management system:
1. Hierarchical system
2. Network system
3. Relational system
 Hierarchical System:
• It is an inverted list system and follows the approach of IBM IMS (information management
system) software released in 1968 and is still widely used.
• When the data have a parent- child or one to many relations, it is called as hierarchical
model.
• This is widely used in environmental science and soil classification etc. It is the fastest but
the most restrictive for the user.
• Record at a particular level contains data common to a set of records at the next lower
level. There are no connection between records of the same level.
• Each record contains a field defined as the key field, which organised the hierarchy.
• Record of the same type are collected in the file known as elements. Construction of the
hierarchical structure begins with a main object as its top.
 Network system:
• In network database system each elements or collection of
like records, has connections to several different level
elements.
• Each entity set with the attribute is considered to be a node
in the network.
• Relationship set are represented as linkages in the form of
pointers between individual entities in different entity sets.
• The elements of the structure may be related through one-
two- many, many to one, many to many connections.
• Links between records of the same type are not allowed in
this model.
 Relational systems:
• The concept of relational approach were first set out by Codd in 1970 as
a means of describing data with their natural structure.
• The relational data model is simpler than the hierarchical or network
model because it is similar to flat file.
• Commonly used relational DBMS are ; INFO, ORACLE, Geo Vision and
dBASE- used in PC ARC/ INFO and other PC based GIS.
• A flat fell is the file where each record in the file contains the same data
fields as other records. The value of each field or field may differ and
usually one field is designated as a key field, which is used for locating a
particular record over for sorting the file in a particular order.
• The difference between a flat file and the relational model is that the
relational database can consist of several flat files and each can contain
different attributes associated with the record.
 11. Explain Topological
Structures.
■ Topology is the branch of mathematics, based on graph theory. The three basic
topological relationships are as;
1. Connectivity (arc-node topology) :
• Arcs connect to each other at nodes and provide information about
linkages among spatial features.
• Arc node was developed as a convenient way to store information of this
sort. It is used to encode information used in the US Bureau of census
boundary files.
• By tracking all the arcs that meet at any node, the system will come to
know which arcs connect to each other.
2. Area definition (polygon-arc topology) :
• Arcs that connect to surround an area define a Polygon.
• Polygon are defined by a series of XY coordinates that connect to enclose
an area. System like GeoMedia store polygons in this format.
• Through an arc may appear for more than one polygon, each is stored only
once. It ensures that the boundaries of adjacent polygons don’t overlap.
3. Contiguity:
• Arc have direction left
and right polygon.
• Every arc has direction
from node to node. This
direction has been
maintained in the list of
polygons as on the left
and right sides of each
arc. Thus any polygons
sharing a common arc
are adjacent.
 ■ Object- Oriented Data Model:
 The typical database systems are record oriented and
essentially intended for administrative tasks. There are not
particular well suited to representing a conceptual data model
12. Explain 
of graphical reality.
Furthermore, geometrical data and attribute data are often
about Object- physically separated, each residing in a separate database.
The methods of file organization discussed above depend
Oriented Data upon the careful description of real world phenomena in term
of their attributes, such as height, weight or age.

Model.  The attributes provide a sort of abstracted description of the

real world feature. Much recent attention has focused on how
to organise this information in ways that more readily
represent the way users gather and use information about the
world around them.
 That is, humans recognize “objects” immediately intern off
their totality or “wholeness”. Object oriented models are
designed to closely resemble the user’s own view and
classification of the things they study.
 Model deals with user oriented concept like land parcels,
easements, Transformers and fuses, not points, lines, and
polygons.
■ The word “objects” is similar to the entity
relationship concept of an “entity”
although “object” is more general.
Objective things but they are not limited
to physical tangible things. For example
data structures can be object.
■ Like the other models, the object model
assumes that object can conceptually be
collected together into meaningful
groups. The idea of object oriented
database is to organise information into
the sorts of wholes that people recognize.
■ Instead of decomposing each feature a
distinctive list of attributes emphasis is
placed on grouping the attributes of a
given object into a unit or template that
can be stored or retrieved by its natural
names this group are called classes.