Semantic heterogeneity in distributed geographic databases

Abstract

This paper considers the special problems of semantic heterogeneity in a distributed system of databases containing spatially referenced information. Two forms of semantic heterogeneity are defined. Generic semantic heterogeneity arises when nodes are using different generic conceptual models of the spatial information. Contextual semantic heterogeneity is caused by the particular local environmental conditions at nodes. It is contextual heterogeneity which is especially the consideration with geographic databases and to which the paper devotes most attention. Two possible solutions are proposed, one founded on transforming processors between models and a second using a canonical model which is a generalization of existing generic spatial models.