The Geodatabase Data Structure
Esri developed the geodatabase data model for the following reasons:
- To take advantage of increased computing power, data storage, and modern relational database management systems (RDBMSs)
- Because ideas of how to store geographic data have become more refined
- To “umbrella-ize” the different forms of spatial data storage: vector, raster, and, terrains (but not TINs, unless they are converted to terrains),
- To permit the use of “objects” that depict real-world entities, in terms of both description (which is still done with attributes) and behavior