Using object deputy database to realize multi-representation geographic information system
Zhiyong Peng, Yuwei Peng, Boxuan Zhai · 2007
Multi-representation geographic information system (GIS) is used to store and manage geographic objects with different scales and semantics. It is difficult for relational and object-oriented databases to support multi-representation GIS. This paper proposed a new approach to realize multi-representation GIS using our object deputy database, where an object can have multiple deputy objects which inherit attributes and methods of the source object and can have their own attributes and methods. Multi-representations of a geographic object are defined by its deputy objects. So deputy objects can be used to represent viewpoint-multiplicity and role-multiplicity of geographic objects. Dynamic classification and automatic consistency maintenance of geographic objects can be supported through the update propagation mechanism of our object deputy database. In addition, the bilateral links between a geographic object and its deputy objects make cross-representation query easier. We have implemented a multi-representation GIS based on our object deputy database. Experiments show our method is more efficient than the traditional ones.