Geographic Information Systems 1

VECTOR DATA MODEL

Prepared by: Engr. Kathrina Borgonia

Reference: Introduction to Geographic

Information Systems by Kang-Tsung Chang
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Contents
• Representation of Simple features
• Topology
• Georelational Data Model
• Object-Based Data Model
• Representation of Composite Features
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Introduction
• “How can the computer see
the same features and their
spatial relationships?”
WA MT
• Answer: Vector data model

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ID

NV
UT
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Vector Data Model

• Prepares data in two basic steps so that the computer can
process data
• First, it uses points and their x-,y-coordinates to represent
spatial features such as points, lines and polygons
(areas).
• Second, it organizes geometric objects and their spatial
relationships into digital data files that the computer can
access, interpret, and process.
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Vector Data Model

• In Esri’s recent software packages, they have introduced
a new vector model: coverage with Arc/Info, shapefile with
Arcview, and geodatabase with ArcGIS.

• Coverage and shapefile are georelational data model,

which uses a split system to store geometries and
attributes.

• Geodatabase is an example of the object-based data

model which stores geometries and attributes in a single
system.
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Representation of Simple features

Vector data model

Zero uses geometric
Point dimension/property
of location objects to represent
spatial features.

One-dimensional; Line/Poly
length + location line

Two-dimensional
polygon Properties:
area,perimeter
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Topology
• Vector data can be topological of nontopological,
depending on whether topology is built into the data.
• Topology refers to the study of properties of geometric
objects that remain invariant under certain
transformations such as a bending or stretching.

Important to vector data model are digraphs, which include

directed lines and points.
Arcs – directed lines
Points – points where arcs meet/intersect
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Topology
Importance of Topology:
• First, it ensures data quality and integrity. Example,
topology allows detection of lines that do not meet
correctly.
• Second, topology can enhance GIS analysis (i.e. traffic
flow, stream flow, since flow data are directional)
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Georelational data model

• It stores geometries and attributes separately in a split
system: geometries (“geo”) in graphic files and attributes
(“relational”) in a relational database.
• It uses the feature identification number (ID) to link the
two components
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Georelational data model

• Coverage data Structure – How are the topological
relationships incorporated into the coverage’s data
structure?
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Georelational data model

Coverage data
structure

Polygon/arc list
are stored as
graphic files in a
coverage folder
called INFO
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Georelational data model

AutoCAD uses a DXF (drawing exchange format) data
format for transfer of data files. DXF maintains data in
separate layers which allows the user to draw each layer,
but DXF files do not support topology.

The Coverage
• The “coverage” supports three basic topological
relationships (ESRI Inc., 1998)
• Connectivity: Arcs connect to each other at nodes
• Area definition: An area is defined by a series of connected arcs
• Contiguity: Arcs have directions and left and right polygons
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Georelational data model

Nontopological Vector Data
• Shapefiles are standard nontopological data format used
in Esri products.
• Shapefiles have duplicate arcs for the shared boundaries
and can overlap one another.
Advantages:
1. Faster display in computer than the topology
counterparts
2. Nonproprietary and interoperable, they can be used
across different software packages
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Object-Based data model

• Latest entry in vector data models
• Treats geospatial data as objects
• Object – can represent a spatial feature (road, timber
stand, hydrologic unit)
• To GIS users, the object-based data model differs from
the georelational data model in 2 aspects:
• First, it stores geometries and attributes in a single system.
• Second, it allows a spatial feature (object) to be associated with a
set of properties and methods
• Property – describes an attribute or characteristic of an
object(shape and extent, i.e.)
• Method – performs a specific action (copy and delete, i.e.)
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Object-Based data model

Classes and Class Relationships
Class – set of objects with similar characteristics

Object oriented technology allows relationships such as:

• Association – defines how many instances of one class
can be linked with another class through multiplicity
expressions at both ends of the relationship
e.g. an address can be associated with one zip code, but there are
many addresses having the same zip code
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Object-Based data model

Object oriented technology allows relationships such as:
• Aggregation – describes whole-part relationship between
classes (e.g. census tract is an aggregate of a number of
census blocks)
• Composition – a type of association in which the parts
cannot exist independently from the whole
• Type inheritance – defines the relationship between a
superclass and a subclass. A subclass can have
additional properties and methods to separate itself from
other members of the superclass.
• Instantiation – means that an object of a class can be
created from an object of another class
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Object-Based data model

Interface
• Represents a set of externally visible operations of a class
or object
• Object-based technology uses a mechanism called
encapsulation to hide the properties and method of an
object so that the object can be accessed only through
the predefined interfaces
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Object-Based data model

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Object-Based data model

The Geodatabase
• An example of the object-based vector data model, is part
of ArcObjects developed by Esri as the foundation for
ArcGIS Desktop.
• Just like the shapefile, geodatabase uses points,
polylines, and polygons to represent vector-based spatial
features
• The geodatabase is similar to the coverage in simple
features, but the two differ in the composite features of
regions and routes.
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Object-data based model

Feature dataset –
stores feature classes
that share the same
coordinate system area
extent

Feature class – stores

spatial features of the
same geometry type

Standalone feature
class – resides in a
geodatabase but is not
part of a feature
dataset
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Object-data based model

Example
A line feature class for
representing road
centerlines

4 most commonly used

feature classes are:
Points, lines, polygons,
and annotation
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Object-data based model

Using feature datasets
Use feature datasets to
organize spatially related
feature classes into a
common dataset:
-To Add a Topology
-To Add a Network
Dataset
-To Add a Geometric
Network
-To Add a Terrain Dataset
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Object-based data model

Advantages of the Geodatabase
• ArcGIS can use coverages, shapefiles, and geodatabases
• The geodatabase, which is part of ArcObjects, can take
advantage of object-oriented technology.
• The geodatabase offers on-the-fly topology, applicable to
features within a feature class or between two or more
participating feature classes.
• Thousands of objects, properties, and methods in
ArcObjects are available for GIS users to develop
customized applications
• ArcObjects provides a template for custom objects to be
developed for different industries and applications
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Representation of Composite Features

• Composite features refer to those spatial features that
are better represented as composites of points, lines, and
polygons for their applications.
• Examples of composite features are TINs, regions, and
routes.
TINs
• Stands for triangulated triangle network, approximates the
terrain with a set of nonoverlapping triangles
• Each triangle in the TIN assumes a constant gradient
• Denser, smaller triangles
• Fewer, larger triangles
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TINs
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Representation of Composite Features

Regions
• Refers to a geographic area with similar characteristics,
and hierarchical regions can be formed by dividing the
Earth’s surface into progressively smaller uniform regions
• A data model for regions must be able to handle two-
spatial characteristics: a region may have spatially joint or
disjoint areas, and regions may overlap or cover the same
area
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Representation of Composite Features

Routes
• A route is a linear feature such as a highway, a bike path,
or a stream, but unlike other linear features, a route has a
measurement system that allows linear measures to be
used on a projected coordinate system

Section
• A route subclass is a collection of subsections
• A section refers directly to lines (i.e. arcs) in a line
coverage and positions along lines
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Representation of Composite Features

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Representation of Composite Features

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Advantages of Vector Data Model

• Graphical output is more aesthetically pleasing ( paths
and vertices)
• Gives higher geographic accuracy because data isn’t
dependent on the grid size
• Topology rules can help data integrity with vector models
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Disadvantages of Vector Data Model

• Continuous data is poorly stored and displayed as vectors
• Topology for vector data is often processing intensive
• Any feature edits requires updates on topology