Building Geospatial Data Warehouse for GIS by GIS with FME

Jun 16, 20250 likes0 views

Data warehouses are often considered the backbone of data-driven decision-making. However, traditional implementations can struggle to meet the iterative and dynamic demands of GIS operations, particularly for Iterative Cross-Division Data Integration (ICDI) processes. At WVDOT, we faced this challenge head-on by designing a Geospatial Data Warehouse (GDW) tailored to the needs of GIS. In this talk, we’ll share how WVDOT developed a metadata-driven, SESSI-based (Simplicity, Expandability, Spatiotemporality, Scalability, Inclusivity) GDW that transforms how we manage and leverage spatial data. Key highlights include: - Simplifying data management with a lean schema structure. - Supporting ad hoc source data variations using JSON for flexibility. - Scaling for performance with RDBMS partitioning and materialized views. - Empowering users with FME Flow-based self-service metadata tools.We’ll showcase real-world use cases, such as pavement condition data and LRS-based reporting, and discuss how this approach is elevating GIS as an integrative framework across divisions. Attendees will walk away with actionable insights on designing GIS-centric data systems that combine the best of GIS and data warehouse methodologies.

Towards a New
Geospatial Data Warehousing Paradigm
Geospatial Data Warehouse
for GIS
by GIS
with FME
May 2025, Portland

Presenters
Bo Guo,PhD. PE
CTO
Gistic Research, Inc.
gisticinc.com

Agenda
1 GDW Challenges
2 Unique GIS Data Operation
3 The SESSI Paradigm or Dream?
4 FME + SQL!
5 Demo and Q&A

IT GIS
FME creates enterprise harmony
by bridging the gap between IT and GIS

Geospatial Data
Warehousing -
Challenges
● Extensively SQL-based ETL processes
● Large number tables and stored procedures
● Lack of agility (wanting to add or rename
a column?)
● Managing sync with other systems
● Single purpose (DSS)
● GIS is only the step-child
● Metadata anywhere?

A small paragraph
describing something
of note within imagery,
or providing a source.
Iterative Cross-Division
Long-Transactional
Data Operation

A New Geospatial
Data Warehousing
Design Paradigm
● Metadata-driven (Example)
● Highly Abstracted Entity Design with Simple
Dependencies
● Auto-generated dependent entities from rules
● No stored procedures or triggers!
● Auto-loading and updating ArcGIS Portal
REST feature services
● High Agility!

A small paragraph
describing something
of note within imagery,
or providing a source.
The SESSI
Design
S implicity
E xpandability
S patiotemporality
S calability
I nclusivity

Expandable Contents
Meta Data Table Partitioned Table
Indexed View
LRS_LAYERS LRS_LAYER_CONTENTS
Business_Rules
Data_Dictionary
Business_Rule_Details
Data_Dictionary_Details
LRSE_Pavement
LRSE_Urban_Code
LRSE_AADT
LRSE_County_Milepoint

● Abstraction
● Table Partition
● Materialized View
● SQL Json
SQL FME
● Loading From Sources
● QC based on Deﬁned Rules
● Publishing to ArcGIS Portal
● Self-service & Automation

● WorkSpace
● QC Reports
● Metadata - Source Data
● Metadata - Layer Deﬁnition
Demo

ThankYou
Contacts
Bo Guo, PhD, PE
CTO
Gistic Research, Inc.
gisticinc.com

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