topic Re: Creating a Data Model with UML? in Data Management Questions

Creating a Data Model with UML?

TimHayes — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 14:46:36 GMT

We want to create a Data Model for the infrastructure inside our Wastewater Treatment Plant (similiar to the Water Utilities Template and other ESRI UML Models). What is the best approach to do this...using UML? if we do use UML, what software do we need? or using Geodatabase Designer? this is a bit clunky, any news on if ESRI updated this tool for 10? it has a great potential. Is Visio a good tool to use for this? if so, any advice you can give would be very helpful.

Our goal is to diagram our data, show relationships, and be able to generate a new or modify our existing geodatabase.

What are your recommendations or thoughts?

Re: Creating a Data Model with UML?

DerekLaw — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:52:39 GMT

Hi Timothy,

Here are some resources to get you started on working UML data models and ArcGIS:

Building Geodatabases with CASE Tools

A note about the use of UML for geodatabase design

Using CASE tools in ArcGIS 10 blog post

Hope this helps,

Re: Creating a Data Model with UML?

TimHayes — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 18:39:20 GMT

What is the hyperlink that allows me to specifically download CASE Tools for use in Visio 2003 with ArcGIS 9.3.1?

Hi Timothy,

Here are some resources to get you started on working UML data models and ArcGIS:

Building Geodatabases with CASE Tools

A note about the use of UML for geodatabase design

Using CASE tools in ArcGIS 10 blog post

Hope this helps,

Re: Creating a Data Model with UML?

DerekLaw — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:20:09 GMT

Hi Timothy,

What is the hyperlink that allows me to specifically download CASE Tools for use in Visio 2003 with ArcGIS 9.3.1?

To be clear, you need to have a software license of MS Visio 2003/2007. You would create your own UML model (as a Visio diagram) that defines the schema of a geodatabase (or you can edit an existing data model). You can get the ArcInfo UML template file from the first link in my previous post:

Building Geodatabases with CASE Tools

Support Files

When you've finished your Visio diagram, you can import it into an empty geodatabase in ArcCatalog with the Schema Wizard tool - which is available in ArcCatalog, from the Customize dialog > Commands tab > Case Tools category. You will have to add the Schema Wizard tool to the UI.

Hope this helps,

Re: Creating a Data Model with UML?

DerekLaw — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:21:27 GMT

Hi Timothy,

What is the hyperlink that allows me to specifically download CASE Tools for use in Visio 2003 with ArcGIS 9.3.1?

To be clear, you need to have a software license of MS Visio 2003/2007. You would create your own UML model (as a Visio diagram) that defines the schema of a geodatabase. You can get the ArcInfo UML template file from the first link in my previous post:

Building Geodatabases with CASE Tools

Support Files

Or you could edit an existing data model. When you've finished your Visio diagram, you can import it into an empty geodatabase in ArcCatalog with the Schema Wizard tool - which is available in ArcCatalog, from the Customize dialog > Commands tab > Case Tools category. You will have to add the Schema Wizard tool to the UI.

Hope this helps,

Re: Creating a Data Model with UML?

TimHayes — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 14:31:34 GMT

Now it makes sense. Thanks. I have Visio2003, I will try to get Visio2007.

We already have our Geodatabase and Feature Classes built with data, what approach would you recommend for constructing a UML Data Model out of an existing Geodatabase?

I heard Geodatabase Designer would work?

Hi Timothy,

To be clear, you need to have a software license of MS Visio 2003/2007. You would create your own UML model (as a Visio diagram) that defines the schema of a geodatabase (or you can edit an existing data model). You can get the ArcInfo UML template file from the first link in my previous post:

Building Geodatabases with CASE Tools

(under the Support Files section > ArcInfo UML model template)

When you've finished your Visio diagram, you can import it into an empty geodatabase in ArcCatalog with the Schema Wizard tool - which is available in ArcCatalog, from the Customize dialog > Commands tab > Case Tools category. You will have to add the Schema Wizard tool to the UI.

Hope this helps,

Re: Creating a Data Model with UML?

DerekLaw — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 04:03:46 GMT

Hi Timothy,

At this time, there is no "perfect" solution for using the CASE/UML data model approach for designing geodatabase schemas. There are a few developer samples such as:

ArcGIS Diagrammer 9.2/9.3

Geodatabase Diagrammer for ArcGIS 9

Please also review this help topic:

A note about the use of UML for geodatabase design

Hope this helps,

Re: Creating a Data Model with UML?

danan — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 18:33:58 GMT

Sparx Systems has just released a beta UML Profile of the Geodatabase for Enterprise Architect (EA). They call it the ArcGIS UML Profile.

Enterprise Architect is reasonably cheap (last I checked, which was awhile ago, around USD $200 for a single user).

I blogged about it here:
http://spatialdba.com
http://spatialdba.com/?p=50

If you follow the links through to Sparx Systems' web site, you'll find a video demo:
http://www.sparxsystems.com/resources/demos/arcgis/arcgis-ea-intro.htm

Hope this helps.

Re: Creating a Data Model with UML?

danan — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 20:43:37 GMT

Following up on relevant threads:

Here's my write-up of the Geodatabase Modeling and Design Special Interest Group (SIG) event from the 2011 International UC:

"A View of the Geodatabase Modeling and Design SIG Event at Esri�??s 2011 International User Conference":
http://spatialdba.com/?p=104

Re: Creating a Data Model with UML?

danan — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:57:16 GMT

The geodatabase modeling and design requirements survey closes tomorrow (Wed) August 31st at 11:59pm Eastern US time. Thanks to those who've already participated. It's a user-driven survey I helped create in support of the Geodatabase Modeling and Design Special Interest Group (SIG) for Esri's 2011 International User Conference.

I'd love to see more International representation. Most responses are from the US. Qualitative answers (text entries) are more valuable than quantitative ones (check boxes, etc). Please mention specific use cases and anything that would help in your daily work. Skip whatever isn't relevant. The survey isn't just for experts. It's for anyone who designs geodatabases. Of particular interest to me in designing the survey was integration of Enterprise GDB Design with Relational Database Design and the rest of Enterprise IT.

A summary of survey results will be posted to my blog, http://SpatialDba.com, by October 31st.

Direct survey link:
http://spatialdba.com/limesurvey/index.php?sid=72916&lang=en

A review of the 2011 SIG event can be found below. Hope to do another in 2012:
A View of the Geodatabase Modeling and Design SIG Event at Esri�??s 2011 International User Conference
http://spatialdba.com/?p=104

Re: Creating a Data Model with UML?

danan — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:24:38 GMT

The geodatabase modeling and design requirements survey closes tomorrow (Wed) August 31st at 11:59pm Eastern US time. Thanks to those who've already participated. It's a user-driven survey I helped create in support of the Geodatabase Modeling and Design Special Interest Group (SIG) for Esri's 2011 International User Conference.

I'd love to see more International representation. Most responses are from the US. Qualitative answers (text entries) are more valuable than quantitative ones (check boxes, etc). Please mention specific use cases and anything that would help in your daily work. Skip whatever isn't relevant. The survey isn't just for experts. It's for anyone who designs geodatabases. Of particular interest to me in designing the survey was integration of Enterprise GDB Design with Relational Database Design and the rest of Enterprise IT.

A summary of survey results will be posted to my blog, http://SpatialDba.com, by October 31st.

Direct survey link:
http://spatialdba.com/limesurvey/index.php?sid=72916&lang=en

A review of the 2011 SIG event can be found below. Hope to do another in 2012:
A View of the Geodatabase Modeling and Design SIG Event at Esri�??s 2011 International User Conference
http://spatialdba.com/?p=104

The survey has been extended by one day. It will now close today, Sept 1, at 5pm Eastern US time.

Re: Creating a Data Model with UML?

danan — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 17:06:45 GMT

Survey results are now available:
Geodatabase Modeling and Design Tool Survey quantitative results