A 4D marine data model: Design and application in ice monitoring

Abstract

Large amounts of heterogeneous datasets are collected for monitoring and forecasting of environmental phenomena and processes. These data vary in both spatial and temporal resolution, but there is still a demand for integrating them to improve the results of analyses and simulations. We propose a conceptual data model for representation of measured and simulated data at different spatial and temporal scales. An object‐oriented technique has been used to develop this data model, leading to a model that is close to the user's view of the data, and flexible with respect to incorporation of new types of data. It is shown how the developed data model can be applied in an ice monitoring system.