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Geodatabase Design
Geodatabase Design
Acknowledgement
These slides have been adapted from:
ESRI. 2017. Building Geodatabase-Course
Workbook (Student Edition). ESRI Publisher.
Chapter 10
Learning Objectives
At the end of this session student will be able to:
Design geodatabase
Contents
• What is Geodatabase?
• The geodatabase is the native data structure for ArcGIS and is the
primary data format used for editing and data management.
• It is the physical store of geographic information, primarily using a
database management system (DBMS) or file system.
• Geodatabase software logic provides the common application logic used
throughout ArcGIS for accessing and working with all geographic data in a
variety of files and formats.
• Geodatabases have a transaction model for managing GIS data
workflows
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7
An overview of geodatabase design
Representation
Each GIS database design begins with a decision as to what the
geographic representations will be for each dataset. Individual
geographic entities can be represented as
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Geodatabase Design Workflow
Purpose: Creating A
Purpose Geodatabase for
Reason
Assess:
Collect and Design:
analyze Assess
Specify data
information structure and
behaviors
1. Identify the information products that you will create and manage with your
GIS
2. Identify the key data themes based on your information requirements
3. Specify the scale ranges and the spatial representations of each data theme
at each scale
4. Decompose each representation into one or more geographic datasets
5. Define the tabular database structure and behavior for descriptive attributes
6. Define the spatial behavior, spatial relationships, and integrity rules for your
datasets
7. Propose a geodatabase design
8. Design editing workflows and map display properties
9. Assign responsibilities for building and maintaining each data layer.
10. Build a working prototype. Review and refine your design
11. Document your geodatabase design
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Six key elements to represent the
contents of your geodatabase design
(5)
(4)
2D and 3D basemaps
(6) 13
Using Microsoft Visio and the
Geodatabase Diagrammer tool
Other key properties of your geodatabase design should be considered
and documented including
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Modeling Feature Class
Example feature classes in ArcGIS
1. Add a topology.
2. Add a cadastral fabric dataset.
3. Add a network dataset (must have the ArcGIS Network Analyst
extension to use).
4. Add geometric networks.
5. Add a terrain dataset (must have ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension to
use).
We can
use domains which are Determine whether there are
Determine whether there
rules for assigning valid spatial relationships between
are related tables and if
values in an attribute features in this feature class or
you need relationship
field. with other feature classes that
classes 18
need to be modeled
Final design tips to help your design implementation
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Working with Geodatabase Schema
Exporting a geodatabase schema to an XML workspace document
The steps to copy a geodatabase schema using an XML workspace document are
as follows:
• In the Catalog tree, right-click the geodatabase, feature dataset, feature
class, or table you want to export; point to Export; then click XML
Workspace Document.
• To export the schema without any records from the feature classes and
tables, click Schema Only. Specify the path and name of the new XML file
you will create
• Click Next to preview the contents of the schema information to be copied.
• ClickSummary to review a summary of the extraction contents and other
optional settings. When you are ready, click Finish to export the schema.
20
Importing a geodatabase schema from an XML workspace document
• If one does not already exist, create a new geodatabase into which you will
import the schema.
• Right-click the geodatabase, point to Import, then click XML Workspace
Document.
• Use the browser to locate the XML workspace document to import. If you are
sure it is schema only, you can check Schema Only before executing the
import operation.
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Copying a geodatabase schema using Extract Data Wizard in ArcMap
• This option allows you to specify a spatial reference for your new geodatabase.
• Open the Distributed Geodatabase toolbar: click View > Toolbars > Distributed
Geodatabase.
• Click Extract Data on the Distributed Geodatabase toolbar to start Extract Data Wizard.
• Click the Schema Only button in response to the question,What do you want to extract?
• Navigate to the geodatabase into which you want to copy the schema or type its path. If
the geodatabase doesn't already exist, it will be created for you.
• Check the Show advanced options for overriding data extraction defaults when I click
Next choice at the bottom of the Extract Data Wizard dialog box.
• Click Next to preview the contents of the schema information to be copied.
• Uncheck the Include check boxes for the feature classes, tables, or relationship classes
whose schemas you don't want to export.
• On this panel, you have the option to specify a new spatial reference for the output
schema.
• In this final panel, review a summary of the extraction contents and other optional
settings. When you are ready, click Finish to export the schema.
http://desktop.arcgis.com/en/arcmap/10.3/manage-data/geodatabases/copying-the-schema-of-a-geodatabase-
copy-a-geodata.htm
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Copying the geodatabase schema of an ArcGIS data model template
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Using CASE tools and UML to create a geodatabase schema
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References
ESRI. 2017. Building Geodatabases-Official ESRI Training
Courseware (Student Edition)