Using the model-driven architecture approach for geospatial databases design of ecological niches and potential distributions

Abstract

An ecological niche is defined by an array of biotic and abiotic requirements that allow organisms to survive and reproduce in a geographic area. Environmental data from a region can be used to predict the potential distribution of a species in a different region. Potential geographic distributions are useful in predicting the extent of invasive species, preventing economic and ecological damages. Many formalisms for modeling geospatial information have been developed over the years. The most notable benefit of these formalisms is their focus on a high-level abstraction of reality, leaving unnecessary details behind. This paper presents the stages of the Model-Driven Architecture approach for the design of database, with geospatial capabilities, for niches and potential geographic distributions. We take advantage of the UML GeoProfile formalism for geospatial databases, which is capable of modeling geographic and environmental data.