Designing Geodatabases: Case Studies in GIS Data Modeling [Paperback]

David Arctur (Author), Michael Zeiler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004 | ISBN-10: 158948021X | ISBN-13: 978-1589480216

This guide to creating a dynamic GIS data model helps database managers design a schema that has comprehensive and descriptive query definitions, a user-friendly cartographic display, and increased performance standards. The five steps for taking a data model through its conceptual, logical, and physical phases, including modeling the user's view, defining objects and relationships, selecting geographic representations, matching geodatabase elements, and organizing the geodatabase structure are studied in detail. A look at nine decision points that deal with concerns common to all data modeling exercises, such as validating feature geometries, modeling linear networks, managing raster data, and labeling map features help database managers fine-tune their GIS data models. Several design models for a variety of applications are considered including addresses and locations, census units and boundaries, stream and river networks, and topography and the base map.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Arctur is a product specialist at ESRI and is part of the geodatabase development team. He has written for the "Earth Observation & Mapping Magazine," "IEEE Computer Magazine," and "International Journal of Geographical Information Science," He lives in Austin, Texas. Michael Zeiler is a technical writer and data model specialist at ESRI with experience in diagramming GIS concepts, building data models, and programming. He is the author of "Exploring ArcObjects," "Inside ARC/INFO," and "Modeling Our World," He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Product Details

• Paperback: 393 pages
• Publisher: ESRI Press (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158948021X
• ISBN-13: 978-1589480216
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #346,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Geography > Information Systems
  • #64 in Books > Computers & Technology > Databases > Relational Databases

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Design ideas and scenarios, October 1, 2006

By 

Gary Sprandel (Frankfort, Kentucky) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Designing Geodatabases: Case Studies in GIS Data Modeling (Paperback)

This book provides a good introduction of steps and principles in designing geodatabases and the importance of information products and identifying thematic layers. The book presents 7 complex models: streams and river networks, census units and boundaries, addresses and locations, parcels and cadastre, surveying federal lands, using raster data, cartography and the base map. For each model they present the features, feature data sets, relationships, and topology rules. Readers working in these 7 areas will probably gain most from the book.

I would have also liked simpler examples and more design principles on grouping features into feature data sets. One of the strengths of this book is in stressing the value of topology rules, and feature data sets are needed for topology rules. With a database background, I would have liked fuller exploration of database relationships and normality contrasted with GIS relationship classes, relates, and joins, since data is often "flattened" when put into GIS. Readers of this should probably start with Modeling Our World: The Esri Guide to Geodatabase design by Michael Zeiler.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for GIS model design & appraisal, October 25, 2007

By 

Sergio Oscar Sperat (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Designing Geodatabases: Case Studies in GIS Data Modeling (Paperback)

All chapters are clearly developed, explained, organized and illustrated.

It is worth reading either as a first try into GIS database design or as an authoritative source for on-going model design appraisal.

It only lacks a chapter devoted to network modeling such as those employed by electric, water or gas utilities. The water hydro model does address 'networks' but it is of a very different sort and is not apt for utility modeling.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars mindshare is being sold here, not the book, July 5, 2006

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Designing Geodatabases: Case Studies in GIS Data Modeling (Paperback)

The subject is considerably more specialised that designing a relational data base. The book is part of ESRI's ongoing way to publicise geodatabases, and hence ultimately drive demand for their products. So keep in mind that what is really being sold here is not the book but mindshare. Yours.

The text has extensive explanations as to what you might need in a geodatabase, as well as what is technically feasible to put in it. It also suggests that you consider what you want your users to be able to do. And use this in no small way to drive the design requirements. Software developers will recognise this as the gathering of scenarios from stakeholders. So you probably should canvas your potential users, if this is at all possible.