Modelling and Manipulating Multiple Representations of Spatial Data

One of the requirements which is poorly supported by spatial data models is a consistent management of different representations of the same spatial phenomena from different viewpoints or at different resolutions. This need is well known by users and designers. Modelling of applications, where users share the same database for different contexts and cartographic applications are examples of environments where such a need arises. This paper proposes a conceptual data model providing full support for multiple representations of the same real world data. The model addresses two complementary aspects: the integrated approach, that leads to the definition of customised database items, and the inter-relationship approach, where the representations are linked through inter-representation links. Both approaches use the stamping technique to differentiate among multiple representations of a given phenomenon and to access a particular representation. Finally, we focus on consequences of multiple coexisting representations on data manipulation. This proposal has been tested and validated with users, and implemented as a front-end to existing DBMS1.