Best Practices for Developing Geographic Information Models

Even with decades of experience, effective design of a GIS database remains a combination of art and science. This workshop shows how you can build on your existing data and skills to take advantage of the latest generation of GIS tools and practices for database design.

After an introduction to the fundamental concepts of GIS database design, we will present and discuss case studies of GIS databases designed for managing land parcels, inventorying municipal facilities for emergency preparedness, and automating a permit application. In the exercises, you will develop portions of conceptual, logical and physical data models.

Through these case studies of successful and effective systems, you will gain a better understanding of the issues you can face, as well as the tools and processes you can apply, in developing many other kinds of systems. 

Specific topics include:

• The key phases in iterative database design
• Developing use cases
• Ten steps to follow for conceptual, logical, and physical information modeling
• Using database templates to build on your existing data sources
• Understanding the relationships between your map layers and geographic database objects

Intended Audience: This material is intended for technical managers and designers of GIS databases and applications. Skilled database users will also benefit. No programming experience is required.

Back to Main Workshop Page

License this Workshop