Design of a Database System for Linking Geo-Scientific Data

Abstract

There are many ways to represent the earth surface in geo-information systems (GIS) reflecting different interests and applications. But multiple representations of corresponding or similar real world objects often result in discrepancies and inconsistencies. To give an improved access to such different data sets and to enhance the data quality, data integration is applied. Additionally to identifying and linking corresponding geometric objects, it becomes possible to propagate geometric changes between the different geo-scientific databases automatically. In this paper, we discuss the schema design for the imports from the component databases and the results from matching and the meta data controlling for the matching process. Integration methods are compiled and classified in the database literature and the integration database system shall provide a choice of integration rules and methods developed by specialists from the geo-scientific application fields. Results of the project can support matching of spatial objects of comparable types by integrated database.