Spatio-temporal database support for long-period scientific data

• Main Authors: M Breunig, AB Cremers, S Shumilov, J Siebeck
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ubiquity Press 2003-11-01
• Series: Data Science Journal
• Subjects: Spatio-temporal DBMS; geo-database management systems; geo-information systems; geo-database kernel systems; GeoToolKit; geological applications; 3D/4D applications
• Online Access: http://datascience.codata.org/articles/221

The quickly increasing number of spatio-temporal applications in fields like environmental management, geology and mobile communication is a new challenge to the development of database management systems. After discussing the related work we present concepts and implementations for the modelling and persistent management of geological long-period scientific data. The spatio-temporal classes are based upon GeoToolKit, an object-oriented 3D/4D geodatabase kernel system. Range queries on spatio-temporal objects are described in detail. We demonstrate the application of the spatio-temporal model with the balanced restoration of structural Rhine Basin evolution, an ambitious geological application. Finally, we give an outlook on our future research in the context of spatio-temporal database services.