Schema integration analysis for the development of GIS databases

Abstract

Analysing the differences and similarities in data descriptions for two or more databases is a common and difficult task for many database development environments. This task is important whether the environment concerns a spatial data transfer process, a database design process for a multi-purpose land information system and/ or a federated group of inter-operable databases in a land information systems network. Schema integration analysis is a stage in a process of information integration undertaken to identify and reconcile differences and similarities between data descriptions. Both the structural and semantic descriptions in a schema need to be processed to identify equivalent concepts. An example of schema integration analysis is described in the context of a database of urban land parcels.