The Water Framework Directive Geospatial Data Model: Article 3 Dataset

Abstract

The major goals of this traineeship was the development and implementation of a centralized, spatially continuous geospatial database structure to store, manage, edit and distribute the geographic reference data of Article 3 of the Water Framework Directive (WFD-Art3). Based on the ISO 191034, ISO191105, and OGC-GML6 specifications, a Feature Catalogue and a Conceptual Data Model (CDM) were developed to describe all object classes, attributes and relationships that were presented in previously established database. The CDM was created with a CASE-tool, where UML class diagrams were developed to describe all features (geographic and non-geographic). Next, the CDM was translated to an Esri’s geodatabase model, specifying the UML classes according with this specification. Tagged values were used to define class parameters, and domains of values were established to help data validation. Finally, the resulting Logical Data Model (LDM) was used to create the physical model of the geospatial database. For testing the implementation of the physical data model, a MS Access database, an ESRI file geodatabase, and an Oracle Spatial database, were used. The document is structured into nine sections, with the aim to explain in detail both the knowledge and technology behind a geospatial data model design and implementation. It starts with an introduction describing the context on which this work was developed. The second, third, fourth, and fifth sections summarize the theoretic and technological aspects that support the geospatial data modelling process. The sixth section is one of the most important and describes the geospatial database construction process regarding technical and technological aspects that should be taking into account to construct and implement a geospatial data model. The seventh section is dedicated to database platforms and database management systems where the implementation of the geospatial database structure was tested. The eighth section is dedicated to the data loading tests made in several database platforms. After these sections some final remarks and future developments are presented and described, as well as the bibliography. The document is also complemented with fourteen annexes and a CD-Rom containing all files used and produced in the context of this work.