Track: Database Management and SDE
SDE Version 3.0 - A Scalable Spatial Database Solution
Don MurrayDale Lutz
With the release of the SDE Version 3.0 server on a variety of platforms, SDE is now a truly scalable spatial database system. It is capable of being run on systems ranging from small desktop systems to very large server-based systems. This paper describes four SDE Version 3.0 projects that vary in both size and requirements. The clients are a municipal government, a provincial (state) ministry, a private company in the petroleum industry, and a GIS consortium. The paper describes an SDE client application that is used for all data exchange requirements between SDE and various desktop GIS systems. The paper also describes the unique requirements of the four different users, as well as the common requirements across all of the different projects. In particular, the paper discusses the different update strategies that are employed for each of the clients. As an update strategy is critical to the success of a spatial database system, the different strategies employed will be discussed along with the different tradeoffs of the solutions. The other aspects of the system that will be discussed include initial data loading, viewing, and data distribution. The paper presents the issues encountered at all stages of the projects and describes the tradeoffs that were made and the SDE facilities that were used to resolve the issues. It also contrasts the different choices made for the different projects. Finally, the paper discusses some of the improvements that have made SDE Version 3.0 more usable over SDE Version 2.1.1 and some of the functionality that we would like to see in the future.
Don Murray
Safe Software Inc.
7525 King George Hwy.
Surrey, V3W 5A8
B.C. CANADA
Telephone: (604) 501-9985
Fax: (604) 501-9965
E-mail: dcm@safe.com