Modelling and querying geographical data warehouses

  • Authors:

  • Joel da Silva;Anjolina G. de Oliveira;Robson N. Fidalgo;Ana Carolina Salgado;Valéria C. Times

  • Affiliations:

  • Center for Informatics, Federal University of Pernambuco, P.O. Box 7851, Recife-PE 50.732-970, Brazil;Center for Informatics, Federal University of Pernambuco, P.O. Box 7851, Recife-PE 50.732-970, Brazil;Center for Informatics, Federal University of Pernambuco, P.O. Box 7851, Recife-PE 50.732-970, Brazil;Center for Informatics, Federal University of Pernambuco, P.O. Box 7851, Recife-PE 50.732-970, Brazil;Center for Informatics, Federal University of Pernambuco, P.O. Box 7851, Recife-PE 50.732-970, Brazil

  • Venue:
  • Information Systems
  • Year:
  • 2010

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Abstract

A number of proposals for integrating geographical (Geographical Information Systems-GIS) and multidimensional (data warehouse-DW and online analytical processing-OLAP) processing are found in the database literature. However, most of the current approaches do not take into account the use of a GDW (geographical data warehouse) metamodel or query language to make available the simultaneous specification of multidimensional and spatial operators. To address this, this paper discusses the UML class diagram of a GDW metamodel and proposes its formal specifications. We then present a formal metamodel for a geographical data cube and propose the Geographical Multidimensional Query Language (GeoMDQL) as well. GeoMDQL is based on well-known standards such as the MultiDimensional eXpressions (MDX) language and OGC simple features specification for SQL and has been specifically defined for spatial OLAP environments based on a GDW. We also present the GeoMDQL syntax and a discussion regarding the taxonomy of GeoMDQL query types. Additionally, aspects related to the GeoMDQL architecture implementation are described, along with a case study involving the Brazilian public healthcare system in order to illustrate the proposed query language.