STXER: A CASE Tool to Support Spatiotemporal Database Design

Recent work on spatiotemporal database mainly concentrates on spatiotemporal data modeling, spatiotemporal index and spatiotemporal query processing. While many researchers aim at developing a spatiotemporal DBMS, few work has been done on technologies supporting spatiotemporal database design. In this paper, we present a CASE tool to support spatiotemporal database design on typical object-relational DBMS. The CASE tool is based on the new spatiotemporal conceptual modeling approach called STXER (Spatio-Temporal extended Entity- Relational model). The STXER approach enhances the traditional ER model with spatiotemporal characteristics, and it also supports non- spatiotemporal applications. The diagram notations, modeling procedures and transforming method to logical model of STXER are discussed in detail. After that, the design and implementation of the CASE tool is discussed. The STXER CASE tool provides graphic modeling interface for users. It also support both XML and SQL representation of schema, therefore the STXER model can be implemented in different DBMS.