Towards the derivation of Multiple Representation Database

This paper presents the background study carried out to design the derivation process of the Multiple Representation Database (MRDB). A topographic feature, for example, a building, is represented differently at different levels of detail (LoDs). When these different representations of a topographic feature are stored and linked, then it forms MRDB. In the proposed design, MRDB is created automatically by the model generalization process. The flowline of the model generalization is designed by studying various existing data specifications, data models, and data products of different scales. The ScaleMaster diagram is used to represent the knowledge that drives the automatic model generalization. The generalization engine discussed in this paper is currently being implemented using the selection criteria, constraints, and model generalization operators tabulated in the ScaleMaster diagram. The results of this generalization engine will be used to maintain the link between different LoDs, thus creating MRDB.