Database Design

Question 1

What is a GDB design?

Answer 1

A process to represent real-world geography in a GDB.

Question 2

Know the 4 stages of DBD in order:

Answer 2

UNA: User Needs Assessment
CD: Conceptual Design
LD: Logical Design
PD: Physical Design

Question 3

What are the DBD stages?

Answer 3

UNA: determines purpose of GDB. Identify organizations’ mission, objectives & requirements. Sadly, this step is usually
omitted.

CD: broadly identifies layers, tables, and attributes. How layers are represented as which geometry type.

LD: organize data into geographic datasets for specific GIS software. FCs have clear definition with attributes (data
types) and relationships. Domains. Match layers to a GDB model. Document items in Excel worksheets (in lab).

PD: most detailed GDB design process completely defines specific file structures to store geographic & tabular data for
a specific software program and meet user requirements. Documented in a Data Dictionary with attribute values

Question 4

What is the goal of a DBD?

Answer 4

minimize storage, min redundancy, max performance.

Question 5

What is a data dictionary?

Answer 5

document that describes the detailed GDB structure and content