GIS Data Model

GIS data model refers to data storage concept in GIS (non-

referenced). How it is stored?
GIS Data Model

URP 3161: GIS Ahsanul Kabir

 Vector data model

The vector data model represents geographic

features similar to the way maps do. Points
represent geographic features too small to be
GIS Data Model

depicted as lines or areas; lines represent

geographic features too narrow to depict as
areas; and areas represent homogeneous
geographic features.

URP 3161: GIS Ahsanul Kabir

 Vector data model

In a vector data model, each location is

recorded as a single x,y coordinate. Points are
recorded as a single coordinate. Lines are
recorded as a series of ordered x,y
GIS Data Model

coordinates. Areas are recorded as a series of

x,y coordinates defining line segments that
enclose an area, hence the term polygon,
meaning ‘many-sided figure’.

URP 3161: GIS Ahsanul Kabir

 Vector data model

With x,y coordinates, you can represent points, lines and polygons as
a list of coordinates instead of as a picture or graph. In the figure
below, for example, the coordinate pair 3,2 represents a point location
(building); the coordinate pairs 1,5 3,5 5,7 8,8 and 11,7 represent a
line (road); and the coordinate pairs 6,5 7,4 9,5 11,3 8,2 5,3
and 6,5 represent a polygon (lake). The first and last coordinates of
GIS Data Model

the polygon are the same; a polygon always closes. These coordinate
lists represent how geographic features are stored in a computer as
sets of x,y coordinates.

URP 3161: GIS Ahsanul Kabir

 Vector data model

To keep track of many features, each is assigned a unique

identification number or tag. Then, the list of coordinates for each
feature is associated with the feature’s tag
GIS Data Model

URP 3161: GIS Ahsanul Kabir

 Vector data model

Arc-node Data structure

The arc-node data structure stores and references

data so that nodes construct arcs and arcs construct
polygons. Nodes define the two endpoints of an arc;
GIS Data Model

they may or may not connect two or more arcs. An

arc is the line segment between two nodes. An arc is
composed of its two nodes and an ordered series of
points which define its shape, called vertices. Nodes
and vertices are represented as x,y coordinates.

URP 3161: GIS Ahsanul Kabir

 Vector data model – arc-node data structure

For example, polygons A and B in the left diagram are represented by a series
of connected coordinates. In the diagram on the right, nodes are created where
the lines intersect, arcs are created between the nodes, with vertices providing
shape, and polygons A and B are constructed from the arcs.
GIS Data Model

URP 3161: GIS Ahsanul Kabir

 Vector data model

Topology

Topology explicitly defines spatial relationships.

Creating and storing topological relationships has a number of advantages.

Data is stored efficiently, so large data sets can be processed quickly.
GIS Data Model

Topology facilitates analytical functions, such as modeling flow through the

connecting lines in a network, combining adjacent polygons with similar
characteristics, identifying adjacent features and overlaying geographic
features.

The arc-node data structure supports three major topological concepts:

- Connectivity: Arcs connect to each other at nodes

- Area definition: Arcs that connect to surround an area define a polygon
- Contiguity: Arcs have direction and left and right sides

URP 3161: GIS Ahsanul Kabir

 Vector data model - Topology

Connectivity

Arc-node topology is supported through an arc-node list. The list identifies

the from and to nodes for each arc. Connected arcs are determined by
searching through the list for common node numbers. In the following
example, it is possible to determine that arcs 1, 2, and 3 all intersect
GIS Data Model

because they share node 11. The computer can determine that it is
possible to travel along arc 1 and turn onto arc 3 because they share a
common node (11), but it’s not possible to turn directly from arc 1 onto arc
5 because they don’t.

URP 3161: GIS Ahsanul Kabir

 Vector data model - Topology

Area definition
Recall that the arc-node structure represents polygons as an ordered list of
arcs rather than a closed loop of x,y coordinates. This is called polygon-arc
topology. In the illustration below, polygon F is made up of arcs 8, 9, 10 and
7 (the 0 before the 7 indicates that this arc creates an island in the polygon).

Each arc appears in two polygons (in the illustration below, arc 6 appears in
GIS Data Model

the list for polygons B and C). Since the polygon is simply the list of arcs
defining its boundary, arc coordinates are stored only once, thereby reducing
the amount of data and ensuring that the boundaries of adjacent polygons
don’t overlap.

URP 3161: GIS Ahsanul Kabir

 Vector data model - Topology
Contiguity
Two geographic features which share a boundary are called adjacent.
Contiguity is the topological concept which allows the vector data model to
determine adjacency.
Recall that the from-node and to-node define an arc. This indicates an arc’s
direction, so that the polygons on its left and right sides can be determined. Left-
right topology refers to the polygons on the left and right sides of an arc. In the
illustration below, polygon B is on the left of arc 6, and polygon C is on the right.
GIS Data Model

Thus, we know that polygons B and C are adjacent.

Notice that the label for polygon A is outside the boundary of the area. This polygon
is called the external or universe polygon, and represents the world outside the
study area. The universe polygon ensures that each arc always has a left and right
side defined.

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GIS Data Model Vector data model - Topology

URP 3161: GIS Ahsanul Kabir

 TIN Data Model
A TIN dataset contains points with x, y, and z values and a series of
edges joining these points to form triangles. The triangular mosaic
forms a continuous faceted surface, which can be used to analyze
and display terrain and other types of surfaces. TINs offer an
alternative to the raster data model for representing surfaces.
GIS Data Model

URP 3161: GIS Ahsanul Kabir