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One of the key aspects of a successful GIS implementation is good database design . Asking <br /> the right questions ultimately leads to a good database design : <br /> • How can GIS technology be implemented to streamline existing functions , or change <br /> the way a particular goal is achieved ? <br /> • What data will benefit Indian River County most ? <br /> • What data can be stored ? <br /> • Who is , or should be , responsible for maintaining the database ? <br /> How the County answers these questions will improve its understanding of GIS technology, as <br /> well as provide new insight into the organization and its functions . <br /> A good database design results in a well-constructed , functional , and operationally efficient <br /> database that : <br /> • Satisfies objectives and supports organizational requirements <br /> • Contains all necessary data without redundancy <br /> • Organizes data for different users with various access levels <br /> Accommodates different views of data <br /> Identifies and distinguishes applications that maintain data from those that use it <br /> • Appropriately represents, codes, and organizes geographic features <br /> • Enforces rules for how geographic features interact <br /> Benefits of the database design process include : <br /> • Increased flexibility of data retrieval and analysis <br /> • Distributed costs of data capture , storage , and use <br /> " 0 Versatile data that supports many different uses <br /> • Maintained data that supports many different users <br /> • Extendibility that readily and easily accommodates future functionality <br /> • Reduced data duplication and data archiving <br /> The key task in building a logical data model is to precisely define the set of objects of <br /> interest and to identify the relationships between these objects . Once an initial logical data <br /> model is developed , it should be validated against Indian River County users ' requirements <br /> for entering , updating , and accessing data , and by testing it against the organization ' s <br /> practices and procedures dor business rules) . <br /> It is critical to involve representatives from each County department/division that will utilize <br /> the data . A logical data model built for a subset of users is guaranteed to have deficiencies <br /> for unidentified users . Building a logical data model is an iterative process and an art that is <br /> acquired through experience . There is no single " correct ' model , but there are good <br /> models and there are bad models . It is difficult to determine when a model is correct and <br /> complete, but an indication for this is when Indian River County can answer `yes ' to these <br /> questions : <br /> • Does the logical data model represent all data without duplication ? <br /> • Does the logical data model support Indian River County ' s business rules? <br /> • Does the logical data model accommodate different views of data for distinct <br /> groups of users ? <br /> 5-3 <br /> GIS Needs Assessment and Implementation Plan Chapter 5 - Database Design and Setup <br />