Spatial Objects

In Orbit Technology, every single entity of spatial data is considered to be a Spatial Information Object or SIO. A single object contains the data referring to a single feature in reality.

In Orbit, all SIO's belong to exactly one Model. Its internal structure complies with the Model definition.

The SIO contains three major components : Spatial Component, Attribute Component, Reference Component. These components build up the data.
Additionally, a Layout Component can be defined adding an object-specific non-spatial graphic representation.

This component holds the spatial details of the SIO : a list of co-ordinates, or an image. The contents comply with the model definition SC type : Point, Line, Area or Image.

Pointlists can be extended with a range of flags that indicate overlays, donut-shapes etc.

The SC is an obliged component.

This components holds the descriptive data in tabular form. The AC consists out of one or more Attribute Sets (or Attribute Tables) which is the equivalent of a table definition : a range of fields with their datatype definition.

For each Attribute Set, the AC can hold one or more data rows. Each row contains a value for each field in the Attribute Set.

The AC is an obliged component.

This component holds references of this SIO to other SIO's, and registers the nature of that relationship. For example, an SIO or type Area can refer to a range of SIO's type Line with nature 'Structural Area' : the Area is then constructed out of the lines of the references SIO's. In such case, the Area's SC can be exceptionally empty.

The RC is optional.

This component holds an SIO-specific layout definition, such as the display of an attribute field as text item on a map, or the display of a pie chart based on several attribute fields. Layout Components define a non-spatial display of the SIO. The text display or pie chart display are defined by a Layout Style which is a definition known within the Model.

The LC is optional.