Design of spatial databases and their role in environmental impact assessment

Spatial database management and Geographic information System technology has captured its importance in the commercial as well as in the scientific field. Usage of spatial databases comprising of vector and raster data in the form of aerial photographs and satellite imageries have opened up a new era of environmental impact assessment and analysis. To assess the impact in an effective and correct way thorough understanding of the hazard as well as geographical details of the area under study are of significance. Properly designed and validated spatial databases can make a difference in analysis of impact on the environmental elements. Geographic Information System, which is a combination of hardware, software, spatial and non-spatial database and the mapping tools, can generate digital maps of the area of interest. Once the spatial database consisting of positional and geometrical shape information of the features on the earth is designed and linked with associated attribute parameters of these geographical features, maps of various types can be produced and spatially analyzed to answer various queries about the site under study. This paper discusses the importance of the spatial database for impact assessment and intricacies of the design of spatial database. (author)