There are a number of reasons why it is very desirable to create applications where the functionality (logic) is seperated from the data sources.
- Data sources or data models may change. You may not want to adjust your applications every time that this occurs. Especially when you are integrating data from multiple sources,
- You may want to develop applications that you share with or sell to other users, having other data sources,
- You may want to connect to different data sources through time,
- You may want to use different applications in your organization using the same data but each having their business models,
- You may want to manage data sources of different characteristics, databases, internet services, files, spreadsheets, etc. in an optimal way.
Business Collection Interfaces
Spatial Workshop provides functionality for defining (geo-) business models without connecting it directly to underlying sources by means of the business collection interfaces functionality.
This mechanism allows for creating and maintaining the business model for your domain, without the need for direct access to the sources that will provide the actual data for this model.
With the -interface- model present, business models can be defined, maps can be defined and analyses can be set up in advance, implementing the interfaces at a later time when the data sources are available to configure.
Application creation and maintenance
The Business Collection Interface allows you to create and maintain your (geo-) applications in a very flexible way.
You can:
- Create data source independent applications,
- Create a Business Collection Interface from existing applications to be used for other purposes or by other parties,
- Link other data sources to existing Business Collections
- Unlink data sources, maintain the applications and business models and reconnect
So you can now start creating and maintaining your Business Applications independent of availability and structure of data sources.