Spatiotemporal data modelling and management: a survey

Abstract

Many data objects in the real world have attributes concerning location and time. Such spatiotemporal objects can be found in applications such as geographic information systems (GIS), environmental data management and multimedia databases. Traditional relational database technology is not suitable for managing spatiotemporal data, which are multi-dimensional with complex structures and behaviours. Spatiotemporal data can only be managed by the new generation of data management technologies such as object-oriented and object-relational databases. We present a comprehensive survey covering aspects from fundamental user requirements for spatiotemporal applications, spatiotemporal object modelling, object storage structures and techniques for manipulation of spatiotemporal objects such as multidimensional indexing, data structures, query evaluation strategies and architectures for spatiotemporal database management systems.