Current and Future Directions in Geographic Information Systems

Time Series

Time Series are a collection of time, value pairs. Time Series are not directly georeferenced, but can be indirectly georeferenced through a many-to-many relationship (many time series records can be related to many spatial features). In Figure 1, Time Series is disconnected from the other four features to indicate that it is not a spatiotemporal data structure, but instead a link to the "outside world" of hydrologic time series modeling and analysis.

Attribute Series

Attribute Series are a collection of time, value pairs that are related to one spatial feature. Each time, value pair is related to one spatial features. The name Attribute Series comes from the idea that we are describing a feature with a dynamic attribute value - a particular attribute of that feature, whether it be flow, dissolved oxygen concentration, or precipitation, varies with time. Attributes series is identical to the current Arc Hydro TimeSeries component where there are two tables: one to store the time, value records, and one to stores metadata describe the type of time series being measured (see the Chapter 7 of the Arc Hydro book for more detail).

Feature Series

Feature Series are a collection of shape, time pairs. A Feature Series is a collection of features indexed by time. Each feature in a feature series exists for only a period of time, making Feature Series an ideal structure for representing a series of flood inundation polygons. Feature Series could also be used to represent the movement of particles through the environment. In this case, the Feature Series would be a set of points, each valid for some instant in time.

Raster Series

Finally, Raster Series are a collection of rasters indexed by time. Each raster is a "snapshot" of the environment at some instant in time. Grouping a series of rasters can describe how the environment changes over time. Raster Series is useful for describing the dynamics of spatial continuous phenomena, like ponded depth in the Everglades, or rainfall measured by NEXRAD.

http://www.crwr.utexas.edu/gis/gishydro04/Time/RepresentingSpaceAndTime.htm

Current and Future Directions in Geographic Information Systems
Time and GIS