Spatio‐temporal data management using object lifecycles: A case study of the Australian capital territory spatial data management system

Abstract

The representation of time in spatial information systems allows historical data to be maintained and analysed, but increases system complexity. While many early methods for handling spatio‐temporality are limited or inefficient, more recent methods are expressive but complex. The object lifecycles method represents temporality using discrete stages in an object's life, focuses on the aspects of spatio‐temporality that are relevant to a specific land administration domain and is therefore simpler than the spatio‐temporal methods that are designed to handle all scenarios. The method has been successfully applied in a production environment: the ACT Spatial Data Management System.