Many ESRI users are unaware of the ESRI standard data models that are available and free to download from http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=downloads.dataModels.matrix website. This month contribution intends to present a walk-through of the methods to download and use these specific industry data models as a reference for quick database development.

Database design thus far contributes a large part towards successfulness of GIS projects, and is time consuming. But, with the standard data models developed by ESRI with collaborations from many industry leaders, what could be better than a data model ready for use? Please refer the link above for the matrix that presents the data models available for certain industries. Yet, please note that these data models may need to be modified or re-model to suit the usage of local contents. Some spatial layers, attribute terms and domains may not be 100% applicable in our country as the business processes conducted may be of different with those where the data models are based on. The best practice could be to review the industry data model, and made a comparison with the workflows and business data (spatial and attribute) in your organisation. You can produce your own data model by either making necessary modification on the template data model or redesign a new model with adoption of some database schema on the standard data models. Either way, a reference to ESRI standard models could help you expedite the database design process.

In this walk-through, I would like to take an example of Homeland Security Data Model, an effort by ESRI teaming with many local, state and federal government agencies to produce a data model that can facilitate the easy exchange of common data that are essential for emergency response and crisis management. The steps below illustrate the methods to transfer the UML model to a Geodatabase.

Step 1: Downloading the Design Template

Download the design template from the website, normally in zip files. The Homeland Security Data Model design template comes with ArcGIS Homeland Security Analysis Model (logical model) and Homeland UML (Unified Modelling Language) model (physical model) in Microsoft Visio format, sample database schema in Microsoft Access and XML document ready for use in ArcCatalog. Other industries design template may only available in Microsoft Visio format, which need to export out as XML format in Microsoft Visio before bringing the schema into ArcCatalog.

Step 2: Preparation Steps for Using ESRI XMI Export Tool in Microsoft Visio

• If you are using Visio 2002 Professional, download and install Service Release 1. Ignore this step if you are using Visio 2003 Professional.
• Download the UML to XMI Export Functionality install file, XMIExport.exe from the link http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnvisio02/html/umlxmi.asp
• Run the XMIExport.exe file. The file will extract to a directory.
• From the extraction directory, copy XMIExport.dll to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Visio10\DLL.
• Copy C:\arcgis\CaseTools\Utilities\ESRI XMI Export.vsl to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Visio10\1033\Solutions\Visio Extras.
• Point the file path of C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Visio10\1033 to Visio Add-On directory.
• Copy C:\arcgis\CaseTools\Utilities\uml.dtd to the directory where the XMI file is saved. (The uml.dtd file is used to define and validate the XMI file created by Visio. This file should always accompany the XMI file).

Step 3: Exporting UML Model to XML Format

If you have modified the UML model, you can use the Semantic Checker function to check for any error before exporting the model out.

Next, use the ESRI XMI Export tool to export the UML model to XML format.

Step 4: Bringing the Schema Wizard Tool to ArcCatalog

By default, you won’t be seeing the Schema Wizard tool in your ArcCatalog. Go to Tools>Customize, click on the Commands tab, and choose Case Tool. Drag the Schema Wizard tool to any position in your toolbars.

Step 5: Create a Personal Geodatabase or ArcSDE Geodatabase

Step 6: Run the Case Schema Wizard Tool

Highlight the Geodatabase that has been created, and run the Case Schema Wizard tool. Select the XMI file exported in Step 3 and follow the Next instruction.

The schema wizard shall read the XML file and translate it into Geodatabase Feature Dataset, Feature Classes, Objects, Relationship Classes, Domains and Geometric Networks, if there is any. Point to any Feature Dataset or Feature Class and click on Properties, notice that the spatial reference is Unknown Coordinate Systems and the X/Y Domains may not the representative of your datasets. Hence, it’s essential that spatial reference shall be changed at this moment to represent your local coordinate systems and spatial extent of your data. Click on Edit and there are options that allow you to specify a new spatial reference and X/Y Domains.

Step 7: Finish Off the Wizard and the Geodatabase Is Ready for Use