Concepts and Paradigms of Spatial Data

This chapter sets out some of the historical paradigms which currently permeate the area of spatial data processing, especially the Boolean map, the layer-based view of the world, the raster and vector controversy, objects and fields and metrics of space. The shortcomings of all these are established in discussion, and recent developments which may be prefacing changes to a new paradigm are reviewed. The chapter recognises a number of paradigms which have had, and continue to have, profound influences on the way we work with spatial information systems. These range from the pre-geographic information system (GIS) paradigm of the Boolean map, through the concept of layers, to the raster-vector debate, and its implications via objects and fields to metrics of space. Modelling geographical processes (particularly environmental models) is limited by use of any generic spatial data model. Embedded in almost everything we do within GIS is the Euclidean metric of space.