A Data Model And Data Structures For Moving Objects Databases

Abstract

We consider spatio-temporal databases supporting spatial objects with continuously changing position and extent, termed <i>moving objects databases</i>. We formally define a data model for such databases that includes complex evolving spatial structures such as line networks or multi-component regions with holes. The data model is given as a collection of data types and operations which can be plugged as attribute types into any DBMS data model (e.g. relational, or object-oriented) to obtain a complete model and query language. A particular novel concept is the <i>sliced representation</i> which represents a temporal development as a set of <i>units</i>, where unit types for spatial and other data types represent certain “simple” functions of time. We also show how the model can be mapped into concrete physical data structures in a DBMS environment.