A Visual Geographic Conceptual Modeling Method Based On Scene Diagram

Geographic modeling and simulation method is the most important approaches to understand geographic world, explain geographic phenomenon and predict the geographic changes for peoples. But unfortunately, the existed geographic conceptual modeling methods are derived from the view of software engineering. It is difficult to use those approaches for general geographic researchers.In this paper, the process of geographic conceptual modeling based on entity-relational model is divided into two steps: one is preparing the required knowledge; another is designing the geographic conceptual models. Following the traditional conceptual representation custom in geographic field, a geographic conceptual modeling method based on scene diagram which integrates the priority of graphics and formalization is proposed. The main idea of this method can be summarized as follows: firstly, the entity in conceptual model is created through plotting the icon bound with conceptual semantics, assisted by the guidance of scene layout template and the support of conceptual semantic supporting system; The relation of entities is constructed by plotted the line between different icons; the multi-scaling conceptual models are built via the guidance of decompounded approaches. Based on the steps above, it can integrate the priority of visual graphics and structural /formal concept. Compared to the traditional graphical modeling methods, the conceptual semantic supporting system is introduced into conceptual modeling, which enhances the intelligence of modeling environment and promoting the compute ability of conceptual model. The strategy of providing scene layout predefinition is used in graphic representation of conceptual model, which normalizing the scene diagram representation. Additional, the loosely coupling of icons and concepts was adopted, which changes the traditional design way that the icon binds closely with concept, and reduce the expense of construct the great of icons assisted with the conceptual inference.By the experiments, it has shown that the method which combined scene diagram with conceptual semantics is fitted to build and represent geographic conceptual model, and the geographic conceptual modeling approach based on the scene diagram is useful for conceptual modeling, conceptual models sharing and conceptual model knowledge reusing.