Data model is a representation of data and its relation. It is consi-dered very important in database design. In constrast to alphanumerical data
spati- al data is characterised by its large magnitude and complexity.Therefore
it is ofsignificance to do research on spatial data model.Most commericial GISes are basedon relational data model.However
its drawbacks on representing spatial entitiesand their interrelations have led to the separation of graphic database and attributedatabase. In order to overcome this problem
extended relational data model andobject-oriented data model are explored.This paper introduces these three data mo-dels and their corresponding GIS architecture
analyses their pros and cons
and pre- sents the relation between spatial data model and GIS architecture.
The Key Lab of Beijing Resource Environment and GIS,Capital Normal University
State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science,Jointly Sponsored by the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Beijing Normal University
College of Environment and Planning,Henan University,Henan Kaifeng 475004,China)3.National Key Centre for Yellow River Civilization & Sustainable Development,Henan University
Australia Cooperative Research Center for Geographic Information Analysis and Applications,Henan University,,China