Data models and query languages for spatial databases

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the characteristics that distinguish spatial databases systems from traditional ones. Hereto, we give an overview of some well-known data models and query languages of spatial database systems. We also investigate the concept of genericity, as introduced by Chandra and Harel for classical databases, for spatial databases. Paredaens, Van den Bussche and Van Gucht have shown that the concept of genericity breaks up in a hierarchy of genericity classes. In this respect, we classify data models and query languages according to the type of generic operations they are designed to support.