3 - Some Types and Uses of Data Models

Abstract

This chapter takes a look at the different types and uses of data models that can be found, what they are good for, and what are the differences are between them. It also analyzes the needs of integration architecture and the special requirements it puts on a data model. Data models have many purposes. These cause differences in both style and content, which can cause confusion, surprise, and disagreement. The purposes and the different types of data model are explained in the chapter. Following this, the chapter takes a look at integration data models and describes the process of integrating data including architecture and a methodology that can be used for data integration. The model integration process takes a number of application models and an integration model. It ensures that all the concepts of the application models are represented in the integration model, and it develops a mapping specification between the integration model and each of the application models. To conclude, data integration presents some particular challenges, and the desirable characteristics of integration models are not necessarily the same as those developed for other purposes.