SvGe/o
Theme
004 / Teaching / Spatial Modeling

Spatial Modeling

This course explores how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and databases are used to build, manage, and question models of the real world. It introduces the conceptual and technical foundations of spatial modeling, from identifying real-world entities and relationships to implementing structured database designs and querying spatial information in practical GIS environments.

S1 / Description

Course Description

This course explores how we use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and databases to build, manage, and question models of the real world.

A spatial model is a simplified version of reality. Instead of trying to represent everything in all its detail, we focus on a specific mini-world so we can understand it better. That mini-world might be as small as mapping hydrants in a neighbourhood or as large as modeling a land management system for an entire country. By reducing complexity, we can focus on what matters: the objects, the relationships between them, and the processes that shape them.

Although this might sound abstract at first, the idea is quite practical. Spatial modeling is about finding clear ways to describe what exists in the world and how it behaves, so that we can analyse it, visualise it, and ultimately make informed decisions.

Databases play a central role in this process. They provide the structure that allows us to store, organize, and relate spatial information efficiently. A well-designed database underpins the entire model by determining how effectively we can connect information, manage data, and ask meaningful questions. Together, GIS software and database systems form the core toolkit for creating and exploring spatial models.

Throughout the course, you will learn how to design and implement database schemas, model real-world entities and relationships, and write effective queries to explore and analyse data. By the end, you will have a solid, hands-on understanding of how databases support spatial models and how GIS and database systems work together in real-world applications across many fields.

S1.01
ID and Title
207093001 / Spatial Modeling / 空間資料模型
S1.02
Place and Time
GIS Lab 270610, Mondays, 16.10–19.00
S1.03
Language and Format
The main teaching language and all course materials are in English. The course is open to students from other departments.
S2 / Goals

Goals and outcomes

This course aims to equip students with both the concepts and the practical skills needed to work confidently with spatial information. Students will learn how to design a spatial model from the ground up—how to identify key real-world entities, structure them in a database, and represent them effectively in GIS.

They will practice building database schemas, writing queries to answer meaningful questions, and creating visualizations that help explain patterns and processes. By the end of the course, students should be able to apply spatial modeling techniques to real-world problems, evaluate the quality of spatial data and models, and communicate their findings clearly.

S3 / Schedule

Weekly schedule

The semester takes place during spring-terms (February – June)

W01
Introduction to Spatial Modeling as a Discipline
Overview of spatial modeling concepts, the role of databases, relevance to GIS and land administration, and the structure of the course.
W02
Fundamental Principles of the Relational Model
Codd’s relational model, keys, relations, attributes, and constraints, with an emphasis on formal rigor in spatial systems.
W03
Conceptual analysis and UML use cases
Use-case modeling, actors, interactions, scope definition, and the first steps in conceptual design for database systems. Project 2 released.
W04
Enhanced Entity–Relationship modeling
Entity sets, relationships, cardinality, specialization, generalization, and constraints, linking conceptual and logical design.
W05
Normalization and implementation
Normal forms, dependency theory, schema refinement, and physical implementation with SQL-based systems.
W06
Introduction to spatial DBMS
Spatial data types, geometry and geography, SRIDs, spatial indexing, and the translation of conceptual models into spatial database schemas.
W07
Introduction to spatial DBMS — Part II
Spatial data types, geometry and geography, SRIDs, spatial indexing, and the translation of conceptual models into spatial database schemas.
W08
Mid-term exam
Written mid-term covering relational theory, conceptual and logical design, normalization, and foundational SQL.
W09
Spatial and spatio-temporal design principles
Spatial entities, events, time-dependent attributes, versioning, temporal relationships, spatial constraints.
W10
The File Geodatabase as a Spatial DB environment
Feature datasets, feature classes, domains, subtypes, spatial indexes. Relationship classes and their semantics.
W11
Spatial Joins, Topology and Validation
Implementing spatial joins, topological rules, topology classes, validation workflows.
W12
Land Administration Systems and Parcel Modelling
Foundations of land administration and cadastral modeling, including parcel identification, rights-restrictions-responsibilities (RRR), geometry constraints, adjacency and topologic control in databases.
W13
Capstone: Building a working land-administration DB
Creating a geodatabase or PostGIS-based parcel system; topology classes; parcel splits/merges; attribute schema.
W14
Capstone: Querying and Validation using Spatial SQL and GIS
Spatial selections, lineage, change detection for land parcels, RRR-related queries. Preparing project output.
W15
Capstone: Completion and Review Session
Final debugging of models, validation, ensuring topologic correctness.
W16
Final exam
Written final exam covering relational theory, conceptual and spatial modeling, SQL, spatio-temporal principles, and topology.
S4 / Assessment

Assessment

The course is successfully completed if project work is completed and the combined exam and coursework performance reaches at least 60 percent.

S4.01
Exams
One written mid-term exam and one written final exam.
S4.02
Project 1
Use-Case Model (10%).
S4.03
Project 2
EER Conceptual/Logical Model including normalization and query demonstrators (20%).
S4.04
Project 3
Spatio-Temporal Database Design and Queries (30%).
S4.05
Project 4
Capstone Project: Building a Land-Administration Data Model (40%).
S5 / Software

Software

The course makes use of a variety of software packages and tools. Versions may change at any time.

S5.01
Visual Paradigm Community Edition 17+
Software for UML and ERD modeling / visit website
S5.02
SQLite 3.30+
Database engine with small footprint / visit website
S5.03
DB Browser for SQLite 3.13 (SQLite Browser)
Graphical User Interface for setting up, managing and querying SQLite databases / visit website
S5.04
PostgreSQL 17+
Complete and full-scale open-source database management system / visit website
S5.05
PostGIS 3+
Spatial extension for PostGreSQL / visit website
S6 / Material

Course Material

Course material including lecture notes, textbook and workbook will be provided here.