1.2 Object-Relational Model

Oracle Spatial supports the object-relational model for representing geometries. This model stores an entire geometry in the Oracle native spatial data type for vector data, SDO_GEOMETRY.

An Oracle table can contain one or more SDO_GEOMETRY columns. The object-relational model corresponds to a "SQL with Geometry Types" implementation of spatial feature tables in the Open GIS ODBC/SQL specification for geospatial features.

The benefits provided by the object-relational model include:

• Support for many geometry types, including arcs, circles, compound polygons, compound line strings, and optimized rectangles

• Ease of use in creating and maintaining indexes and in performing spatial queries

• Index maintenance by the Oracle database

• Geometries modeled in a single column

• Optimal performance