A multi dimensional design framework for querying spatial data using concept lattice

Abstract

Data Warehouses (DWs) and On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) systems rely on a multidimensional model that includes dimensions and measures. Such model allows expressing users' requirements for supporting the decision-making process. Spatial related data has been used for a long time; however, spatial dimensions have not been fully exploited. To exploit the full potential of the spatial and temporal data for analysis spatial dimensions is a necessity for building a data warehouse. It has been observed that OLAP possesses a certain potential to support spatio-temporal analysis. However, without a spatial framework for viewing and manipulating the geometric component of the spatial data, the analysis remains incomplete. This paper presents a multi dimensional design framework adapted for effective spatio-temporal exploration and analysis. This includes an extension of a conceptual model with spatial dimensions to enable spatial analysis. The proposed design framework addresses the problem of spatial and temporal data integration by providing information to facilitate data analysis in a Spatial Data Warehouse (SDW) that uniformly handles all types of data.