Tag: Glossary

A computer-based tool used to gather, transform, manipulate, analyze, and produce information related to the surface of the earth. This data may exist as maps, three-dimensional models, tables, or lists. A GIS can be as complex as a whole system that uses dedicated databases and workstations hooked up to a network, or as simple as… Continue reading Geographic Information System (GIS)

The ability to incorporate new functionality in existing database systems without making major software changes or redefining the basic system architecture.

A computerized system or tool programmed to provide predefined reports or summary information to chief administrators or high-level executives. An EIS provides powerful information reporting and drill-down capabilities, including ad hoc querying and other analytical processing functions.

A design tool that graphically expresses the database’s overall logical structure by representing data entities, their cardinality relationships (e.g., one-to-one, one-to-many, etc.), and the linkages that connect them. The construction of an ER diagram is essential for the design of database tables, extracts, and metadata (see definition of metadata). ER diagrams are especially important in… Continue reading Entity Relationship (ER) Diagram

In programming, engineering, and many other contexts, “entity” is used to refer to units, whether concrete things or abstract ideas, that have no specific names. One can draw something and refer to that drawing as the representation of an entity.

An integrated, technology-driven approach to managing enterprise resources, whether they are cash, raw materials, or personnel. ERP is a strategic tool to help an organization integrate all its business processes and data.

Refers to extraction, transformation, and loading of data from enterprise resource planning (ERP) (see below) systems to other data sources. Software tools that perform this function are generally batch or point-in-time products designed for initial or ongoing loading of data warehouses.

An organizational unit or entity made up of business functions, divisions, or other components that perform various responsibilities to achieve a common objective. The terms “enterprise database” and “enterprise modeling” are used, respectively, to describe data and the method used to understand their relationships across an enterprise environment.

A method of modeling linear features for various applications including highway analysis. Dynamic segmentation is a process for determining the locations of events on linear features (e.g., highway segments) at run time, straight from the tables of features for which distance measures are available and without changing the underlying data structure. For transportation infrastructure management,… Continue reading Dynamic Segmentation

Keeping track of stored documents that are either (1) created by a computer using word processing, spreadsheet, or other software; (2) scanned into a computer and converted to computer code by optical character recognition software; or (3) scanned into a computer and saved in a computer image format. Document management systems provide the ability to… Continue reading Document Management