Introduction to Geo-database

and Topology
GEO-DATABASE 2
 Geo-Database 3

• “A database or file structure used primarily to store, query, and manipulate spatial
data. Geo-databases also store geometry, spatial reference system, attributes,
and behavioral rules for data.”
• A geo-database contains datasets represents collections of information with a real
world interpretation.
 History 4

• In the beginning, there is NO link between Spatial and Non-spatial data.

• 1st Generation:
• Then, both get linked, but stored in separate files.
• 2nd Generation:
• Finally, the spatial and non-spatial datasets are stored in Same table/folder.
5
 Geo-Database In ArcGIS 6

• An ArcGIS geo-database is a collection of geographic datasets of various

types held in a common file system folder.
• It is a native data structure, used to edit and manage the data.
• It maintain the integrity of the spatial data.
• It store comprehensive information related with each other through objects,
feature classes, feature datasets, etc.
• Geodatabases can also contain other special datasets such as
annotation features, topologies, and relationship classes
• It is a container used to store spatial data. A tool to improve editing and
data maintenance
• It has easy access and management options.
• It supports multi-user editing.
 Why Geo-Database: Benefits 7

• It is more robust (strong) and extendable than shape file.

• It makes use full capabilities of ArcGIS.
• Support multi-user editing.
• Faster and efficient.
• Manage large datasets easily.
• Use to edit topology.
• Non-spatial data is stored in standard format.
Like DBMS (Data Base Management System)
 Types of Geo-Database 8

• There are 2 major types:

Geo-
Database
• Single-user Geo-database:
• Personal Single
• File user Multi-user
• Multi-user Geo-database:
• Enterprise (SDE)
File Enterprise

Personal
 Types of Geo-Database 9

1.File geodatabases—Stored as folders in a file system. Each dataset

is held as a file that can scale up to 1 TB in size. The file
geodatabase is recommended over personal geodatabases.
2.Personal geodatabases—All datasets are stored within a Microsoft
Access data file, which is limited in size to 2 GB.
3.Enterprise geodatabases—Also known as multiuser geodatabases,
they can be unlimited in size and numbers of users. Stored in a
relational database using Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB2,
IBM Informix, or PostgreSQL.
 10

Monday, March 30, 2015

 Comparing the three types of geodatabases
Key characteristics Enterprise geodatabase
Description A collection of various types of
GIS datasets held as tables in a
relational database (This is the
recommended native data format
for ArcGIS stored and managed in
a relational database.)
Number of users Multiuser: many readers and
many writers
Storage format ⚫ Oracle
⚫ Microsoft SQL Server
⚫ IBM DB2
⚫ IBM Informix
⚫ PostgreSQL
Size limits Up to DBMS limits
File geodatabase
A collection of various types of GIS
datasets held in a file system
folder.(This is the recommended
native data format for ArcGIS stored
and managed in a file system
folder.)
Single user and small
workgroups:many readers or one
writer per feature dataset, stand-
alone feature class, or table.
Concurrent use of any
specific file eventually degrades for
large numbers of readers.
Each dataset is a separate file on
disk. A file geodatabase is a file
folder that holds its dataset files.
One TB for each dataset. Each file
geodatabase can hold many datasets.
The 1 TB limit can be raised to 256
TB for extremely large image
datasets.
Each feature class can scale up to
hundreds of millions of vector
features per dataset
Personal geodatabase
Original data format for
ArcGIS geodatabases stored
and managed in Microsoft
Access data files.(This is
11
limited in size and tied to
the Windows operating
system.)
Single user and small
workgroups with smaller
datasets: some readers and
one writer. Concurrent use
eventually degrades for
large numbers of readers.
All the contents in each
personal geodatabase are
held in a single Microsoft
Access file (.mdb).
Two GB per Access
database. The effective limit
before performance
degrades is typically
between 250 and 500 MB
per Access database file.
Comparing the three types of geodatabases

Key characteristics Enterprise geodatabase .

File geodatabase Personal geodatabase
Versioning support Fully supported across all Only supported as a geodatabase for Only supported as a
DBMSs; includes cross- database clients who post updates using geodatabase for clients who
replication, updates using
checkout and check- in, and
checkout and check-in and as a
client to which updates can be sent
post updates using checkout
and check-in and as a client
12
historical archiving using one-way replication. to which updates can be
sent using one- way
replication.
Platforms Windows, UNIX, Linux, and direct Cross-platform. Windows only.
connections to DBMSs that can
potentially run on any platform on
the user's local network

Security and Provided by DBMS Operating file system security. Windows file system
permissions security.
Database administration Full DBMS functions for backup, File system management. Windows file system
tools recovery, replication, SQL management.
support, security, and so on

Notes Requires the use of ArcSDE You can optionally store data in a Often used as an attribute
technology; ArcSDE for SQL read-only compressed format to table manager (via Microsoft
Server Express included with reduce storage requirements. Access). Users like the
string handling for text
⚫ ArcGIS for Desktop
attributes.
Standard and Advanced
⚫ ArcGIS Engine
⚫ ArcGIS for Server
Workgroup
ArcSDE for all other DBMSs
included with ArcGIS for Server
 Key Properties Personal File

Description Original data format for A collection of various types

13
ArcGIS geo-databases of GIS datasets held in a
stored and managed in file system folder
Microsoft Access data files
Number of Users Single user and small Single user and small
workgroups with smaller workgroups:
datasets
Storage Capacity 2GB 1TB-256TB

Supported Platforms Supported by Widows Supported by

Cross-platforms
Security Operating Windows

able to be used on different types of computers or with different software packages:

Cross-platforms
 Data Type Supported by Geo-database 14

• The data types supported by geo-database are: CAD, or computer-aided design and drafting(CADD),
• Shapefile is technology for design and technical documentation,
• Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) which replaces manual drafting with an automated
• Triangular Irregular Networks (TIN) process. If you're a designer, drafter, architect, or
• Grids engineer, you've probably used 2D or 3D CAD programs
• Imagery such as AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT software.
• Attribute tables A TIN is an vector-based representation of the physical
• Raster Data land surface or sea bottom, made up
• GPS coordinates of irregularly distributed nodes and lines with three-
• Survey measurements, etc. dimensional coordinates (x, y, and z) that are arranged
in a network of non-overlapping triangles
ity of the Punjab Monday, March

15

Oct. 2018
 Fundamental Datasets in Geo-database 16

• There are 3 major types of datasets, that are supported by Arc Geo-database:
• Feature Class (Vector Datasets)
• Raster Datasets
• Tables
• These are said to be the structure of geo-databa

The primary spatial data format is the Feature Class, which

can be stand-alone or grouped together in a Feature Dataset.

Monday, March 30, 2015

17
1. Feature is an instant of a feature class.
2. It is Spatial Object.
3. Use to organize theme related feature class.

Feature Class 18
1. It contains objects having same spatial references.
2. It is a collection a feature class.

Feature Data-sets 19
TOPOLOGY 20
 Topology 21

• “A branch of mathematics that deals with the properties of a figure

that remains unchanged ever when the figure is bent, stretched, or
otherwise distorted.”
• “In GIS, topology is the arrangement that defines how point, line,
and polygon features share coincident geometry.”

In a GIS , spatial relationships among features are defined by

topology. ... A Geodatabase feature class can participate in only one
topology at a time.
 Why does Topology matter?
22

Topological data structures very important in GIS

software.
Allows automated error detection and elimination.
“Tolerances” important - features can move or
disappear
“snapping”, elimination, merging, etc.
Makes map overlay feasible.
Makes other kinds of spatial analysis possible.
Simple Types of Topology 23

Topology

Geo-
Map database
Topology Topology
 Details Types of Topology 24
There are 3 type of topology in GIS: Map topology, geometric
network topology and geodatabase topology. Each of this topology
can do different things:

1. Using map topology, A map topology creates temporary

topological relationships among features in one or more
feature classes during an edit session (in ArcMap).
The ArcMap topology editing tools are used to maintain
these relationships while editing. In ArcGIS, To do map
topology, commonly-used tools are Topology Edit Tool, Topology
Show Shared Features, Topology Construct Features, Split Tool and
Trace Tool (ArcMap).
 Detailes Types of Topology 25

2. Geodatabase topology, is a set of rules and properties that

defines the spatial relationships among points, lines and
polygons. All feature classes participating in
a geodatabase topology must be in the same feature dataset
The most robust of the three types of topology, geodatabase topology,
is what most people are referring to when they use the term
topology. In ArcGIS, to do geodatabase topology, commonly-used
tools are New Topology (ArcCatalog), Topology Validate Topology,
Topology Subtract, Topology Construct Features, Topology Error
Inspector, Topology Fix Topology Error tool, Extend tool and Trim tool
(ArcMap).
 Detailes Types of Topology 26
3.Geometric networktopology, is a set up rules between lines and
points. In a geometric network topology, topological
relationships are established between point and line feature
classes stored in the same feature dataset. In a geometric
network, topological relationships are stored in
the geodatabase and maintained automatically by the
software. In geodatabase and map topologies, spatial
relationships are not stored—they are "discovered" as
needed (for example, when a feature class is edited
in ArcMap).. In ArcGIS, to do geometric topology, commonly-
used tools are Validate Features and Utility Network Analyst (ArcMap)
and New Geometric Network and Geometric Network Properties
(ArcCatalog).
 Map Topology 27
A map topology creates a temporary topological relationships between
the parts of features that are coincident, which allows you to
simultaneously edit features that share geometry. You can create a map
topology for point, line, or polygon layers from shapefiles
or geodatabase feature classes. In ArcGIS map topology limited created
and applied in ArcMap

• Allows user to edit on screen, by adjusting edges (lines), nodes (end

points of lines), etc.
• Can be applied to shapefile and feature class.
• It does not use topology rules.
• Provides with limited version of topology.
• Available at Topology toolbar.
 Geo-database Topology 28
A geodatabase topology is a set of rules and properties that defines
the spatial relationships you want to model and preserve in your data

• “Geo-database topology defines the spatial relationships of

data that all feature classes must be in the same feature datasets”
• In ArcGIS Created in ArcCatalog within a Feature Dataset, and
applied in ArcMap
• Topology can only be created for simple feature classes –points,
lines, polygons, but not Annotation, Networks, or Dimensions.
Feature Classes can only participate in one topology or
geometric network at one time.
• Topology is a property of the GDB.
 Geo-database Topology 29
• The topology itself is not stored, but only the
properties and rules for the topology.
 Geo-database Topology 30
• It can only be created for vectors, not for raster.
• The topology class stores the errors, exceptions
and dirty areas as a special type of feature class.
Errors –where features break the rules.
Exceptions –where features break the rules but we forgive them.
Dirty Areas –areas where features haven’t been validated.
• It has more extensive rules of topology.
• It can manage and fix the topological errors.
 Geo-database Topology 31
• Has a full set of editing tools to manage and fix topology errors.

• Has several tools for creating new features from existing features.
 Tips 32
• If a Feature class is save in Gdb then it is called Geodatabase
feature class and if it is save as individually then it is called
shapefile feature class
• In ArcGIS, Feature class is a collection of geographic features with
the same geometry type (such as point, line, or polygon), the same
attributes, and the same spatial reference. Feature classes can be
stored in geodatabases, shapefiles, coverages, or other data
formats. Feature classes allow homogeneous features to be
grouped into a single unit for data storage purposes. For example,
highways, primary roads, and secondary roads can be grouped into
a line feature class named "roads." In a geodatabase, feature
classes can also store annotation and dimensions.
 Tips 33
• A shapefile (.shp) is a vector data storage format for storing the
location, shape, and attributes of geographic features. A shapefile is
stored in a set of related files and contains one feature class.

A layer file (.lyr) is a file that stores the path to a source dataset and
other layer properties, including symbology.

In comparison to a shapefile, a layer file is a just a link\reference to

actual data, such as a shapefile, feature class, etc. It is not actual
data because it does not store the data's attributes or geometry. A
layer file primarily stores the symbology for a feature and other layer
properties related to what is seen when the data is viewed in a GIS
application.
 Tips 34
• For example, if a layer file is sent to a user on another machine
without the data it was created from, it does not display on the map
because it does not contain the source data. To get the data to
display properly, the user must have the layer file and the shapefile
it references.

This is where utilizing layer packages eases the processing of

migrating data, because layer packages store both the layer file and
source data
 Topological Convention 35
• A topology can reference one or more feature classes from the
same feature dataset.
• A feature dataset can have more than one topology.
• However, a feature class can only belong to one topology.
• A feature class cannot belong to a topology and a geometric
network. Monday, March 30, 2015
 Geo-database Topology 36

Notes:
You cannot create or edit topologies when ArcMap is open if it has
contained the layers
You cannot use ArcToolbox functions during an edit session (bad things
happen)
You cannot delete a Feature Class that is participating in a Topological
Class
Only one topology problem can be removed at a time
 Topology Rules 37

• “A group of instruction to the geo-database defining the permissible relationships

of features within a given feature class or between features in two different feature
classes.”
• Different types of rules are available for different types of spatial relationships.
• Some rules are for within a feature class.
• Some rules are for between two feature classes.
• There are 26 rules available in ArcGIS Topology, having 3 divisions:
• Polygon Rules
• Line Rules
• Point Rules
University of the Punjab Monday, March 3

38
39