Introduction to Geospatial Data Architecture and GIS Data Management
Michael Scofield
Manager, Data Asset Development
ESRI, Inc.
March 5, 2007
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Level: Business
Geographic information systems are a growing category of data assets.
GIS is a collection of computer hardware, software, and geographic data
for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically
referenced information. Data include traditional maps (albeit digitalized)
and components of maps (“layers”) as well a variety of image types.
All these can be integrated for creating unique displays and presentation
as well as some very powerful analysis of issues which are geographically-dependent.
GIS databases pose unique challenges in data management because of their complexity and unique structural requirements. While a number of standard data models have been created for specific topics (such as census, water features, transportation, and utilities) not all the data available conforms to these models. And the very nature of geography on an imperfect and not quite spherical globe introduce new challenges to achieving accuracy in positional data.Why is geospatial data different?
Why is geospatial data so difficult to integrate?
What are some of the data quality issues?
How is the GIS culture different than commercial data exchange?
How do projections, datum, and scale influence the suitability
of GIS data?
GIS databases pose unique challenges in data management because of their complexity and unique structural requirements. While a number of standard data models have been created for specific topics (such as census, water features, transportation, and utilities) not all the data available conforms to these models. And the very nature of geography on an imperfect and not quite spherical globe introduce new challenges to achieving accuracy in positional data.
Michael Scofield is Manager of Data Asset Development at ESRI in Redlands, California. He is a popular speaker in topics of data management, data quality, data warehouse design, as well as satellite imagery interpretation and emergency communications. His career has included education and private industry in areas of data warehousing and data management. His articles appear in DM Review, the B-Eye Newsletter, InformationWeek magazine, the IBI Systems Journal, and other professional journals. He has spoken to over 120 professional audiences for groups such as Data Management Assn chapters (13), European Metadata Conferences (4), Information Quality Conferences (2), The Data Warehousing Institute (5), Oracle User Groups (8), Institute of Internal Auditors, Assn. of Government Accountants, Quality Assurance Association chapters, Assn. for Computing Machinery and other professional and civic audiences.