A to Z GIS | Explore this related guide, featuring updated terms and graphics and developed in coordination with Esri’s GIS Dictionary team.
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data model
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[data architecture]
The rules or specifications by which data is defined and organized within a system, such as an application or a database. In a GIS data model, these specifications can include spatial representation (for example, points, lines, and polygons), attributes, relationships, spatial or topological constraints (for example, a water valve cannot be drawn midspan on a pipe), cartographic portrayal, and metadata requirements.