Defining and implementing domains with multiple types using mesodata modelling techniques

The integration of data from different sources often leads to the adoption of schemata that entail a loss of information in respect of one or more of the data sets being combined. The coercion of data to conform to the type of the unified attribute is one of the major reasons for this information loss. We argue that for maximal information retention it would be useful to be able to define attributes over domains capable of accommodating multiple types, that is, domains that potentially allow an attribute to take its values from more than one base type. Mesodata is a concept that provides an intermediate conceptual layer between the definition of a relational structure and that of attribute definition to aid the specification of complex domain structures within the database. Mesodata modelling techniques involve the use of data types and operations for common data structures defined in the mesodata layer to facilitate accurate modelling of complex data domains, so that any commonality ...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2006
• Where: APCCM
• Authors: Sally Rice, John F. Roddick, Denise de Vries
• Keywords: APCCM 2006, APCCM 2007, Base Types, Common Data Structures, Data Structures