Spatio-temporal object relational for biodiversity data (STORe-Biodi)

Abstract

After two decades of research, representation of space and time in databases and functional applications are still problematic. This chapter presents a universal objectrelational framework for spatial temporal data modeling. Spatial temporal data modeling aims to extend the existing data models to include space and time in order to better describe this dynamic real world. Problem with previous data models is that spatial and temporal aspects of databases are modeled separately. Spatial database focuses on supporting geometries, while temporal databases focus on the past state. But in many circumstances, such as environmental monitoring, resource management, transportation scheduling, etc, spatial and temporal attributes should be connected together. Many current systems can handle only one aspect of space and time. Spatial systems always fail to cater for many temporal aspects in a dynamic environment. Though many researchers have found the necessity of integration of space and time in one environment, by far, little such work has been done.