Preliminary Design for a Spatial Data Management System

Abstract

Spatial Data Management is a technique for organizing and retrieving information by positioning it in a Graphical Data Space. In contrast to conventional database management systems (DBMSs) which require that information be stored and retrieved by specifying attributes as numbers or strings of text, Spatial Data Management allows a user to employ the spatial location and visual appearance of information in order to find it. The underlying concept is that spatial location is, for many purposes, easier to remember and work with than the keywords of an ordinary DBMS. By allowing a datum to be stored in proximity to related pieces of information, a Spatial Data Management System (SDMS) frees the user of the need to know the exact name or location of the information that he seeks. Instead, he can locate it by 'browsing' until he finds something that he can identify visually. Spatial management of data can be combined with conventional DBMS techniques to yield a system which provides both means of access to information.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 30, 1978
Accession Number
ADA061032

Entities

People

  • Christopher F. Herot
  • Jerry Farrell
  • Jim Schmolze
  • Richard Carling

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Command And Control
  • Computer Graphics
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Database Management Systems
  • Databases
  • Decoding
  • Graphics
  • Language
  • Navigation
  • Navigational Aids
  • Navigators
  • Operating Systems
  • Photographs
  • Relational Database Management Systems
  • Relational Databases

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Database Systems and Applications
  • Educational Psychology
  • Geodesy

Technology Areas

  • Space