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AN OBJECT-ORIENTED AND USER-ORIENTED DATA MODEL 
Hu Ruiming, Yang Suqin 
University of Hainan 
Hainan Geoinformatics Center Group 
Hu Jun 
School of Urban Studies, WTUSM 
Urban Planning and Management Department 
KEY WORDS: OOP, VB, GUI, User-oriented, Data Model, Basic Object Class, User feeture Object Class, 
Newly increased Object Class 
ABSTRACT 
The GIS applications are extending into wider and wider scope, which emphasizes that the GIS applications should be 
more flexible and adaptable. To developing countries, because the problems of lack of capital are more serious and the 
level of education and technology is relatively low, an easy-to-expanded database and application model are badly 
needed. Object-oriented modelling has been recommended for the modelling and organization of spatial data. The core 
of this paper is how to make the GIS be adapted to this changeable world and gradually constantly emerging demands 
from the users. The OOP concepts are discussed and the investigations for using OOP methods to construct a 
practicable information system are explained. An example of an object-oriented and user-oriented data model 
implemented by an OOP language with graphic user interface (GUI) is presented: 
1. Introduction 
At present, the softwares for GIS are mainly written in 
traditional computer languages. As a kind of intelligence 
products, it had been carrying on by individuel 
development, other than by group working. With the 
enhance of computer applications both in depth and in 
width, it was considered that the software that was called 
as ‘the soul of computers” is getting more and more 
difficuit to update and maintain. Since 70s, it was 
realized that computer softwares must be produced in 
industrialization ways and the software science which 
mainly for large software product was formed. However, 
software industry developed rather slowly compared to 
the development of hardware technology. The essential 
reason is that the hardware products have assembly 
parts and those parts can be standardized. As a result, 
standardized parts made it possible to produce in a large 
scale level. 
In the end of the eightieth century, the revolution to 
standardize the industry began and after that machine 
manufacturing industry gained a great development. 
Nowadays a similar revolution is happening in computer 
software industry. It is object-oriented programming 
(OOP). Object-oriented programming can increase not 
only the software productivity greatly, but also enable the 
software products to adapt to the changeable world. 
Furthermore, GIS were developing very rapidly especially 
in developing countries, such as in south-east Asia and 
in China. In developing countries, the problems of lack of 
capital are relatively serious and the foundation, e.g. the 
basic map database, the total education level, ... etc., is 
also poor. In this condition, it becomes an important 
matter to make limited capital the most efficient use. The 
current situation is completely opposite. As an example, 
373 
many Chinese cities are setting up expensive GiSs, but 
the consequences are not so satisfying. Every city and 
every department has different tasks. The traditional 
programming methods have not been able to meet the 
needs of such changeable circumstances. The GIS 
users have to build up giant application systems 
although over-all systems are not usually able to deal 
with every specific area very well. As a result, it takes 
time to build up, but can not come into force in practice 
job. When new demands come, the systems are difficult 
to update. Moreover, the data updating problems always 
are the bottleneck problem fo obstruct the fully use and 
development of GIS existed. 
The objectives of this paper are to explore a way to 
overcome the insufficiency of the present GIS method so 
that a more flexible and adaptable information system 
can be formed for the GISs existed and which are going 
to be set up. We try to apply OOP concepts and 
programming model to an example about a Haikou 
tourism system. This research will consists of an OOP 
database model and OOP applications for the users. 
2. Substantial analysis of the GIS 
No matter how complicated the world is ,GIS is mainly 
representing the geometric status(including the shape, 
size, position and topology) and non-geometrical 
attributes(including all necessary semantic attributes) of 
certain person and/or persons, certain thing and/or things 
near the surface of the world at certain position and time. 
The GIS gives possibilities for various users to 
understand and analyze the geometric status, non- 
geometric attributes and relationships among these 
persons and things, thereby to find out the relevant 
decisions for a better world; 
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B4. Vienna 1996