Secondo Programma

Secondo Programma
Name	Secondo Programma
Genre	Database management system

Secondo Programma. It is an extensible database management system designed for managing complex, non-standard data types, particularly moving objects and spatial-temporal information. Developed primarily at the University of Hamburg under the leadership of Ralf Hartmut Güting, it provides a framework for integrating new data models and algebras directly into its core. The system is recognized for its foundational role in research on spatio-temporal databases and its influence on subsequent geographic information system and moving object database technologies.

Overview

The system is structured around an open, extensible kernel that allows researchers to plug in new data types and operational modules, known as algebras. This design facilitates the management and querying of complex data like trajectory data, geometric networks, and 3D objects. Its query language, based on an extended relational algebra, supports these advanced types. Key development has been closely associated with the Database Systems Group at the University of Hamburg and has been applied in collaborative European Union research projects like CHOROCHRONOS.

Historical Context

Its development began in the late 1990s, a period marked by rapid advances in GPS technology, mobile computing, and geographic information science. Traditional relational database management systems, such as those from Oracle Corporation and IBM Db2, struggled with the efficient modeling and querying of continuously changing spatial data. This gap spurred academic research, with projects like POSTGRES (the precursor to PostgreSQL) exploring extensibility. The work of Ralf Hartmut Güting and his team built upon these ideas, specifically targeting the challenges outlined in research agendas like the Spatio-Temporal Database manifesto.

Key Features and Architecture

The architecture is defined by its **extensible executor**, which processes operations from dynamically loaded algebras. Fundamental data models include the Moving Object type and the Moving Region type, which can represent entities like vehicles or evolving storm fronts. It implements a rich set of predicates and operations for these types, such as **distance**, **direction**, and **traversal**. The system often utilizes the ROSE algebra for robust geometric computations and integrates with visualization tools for rendering complex query results on platforms like Linux.

Applications and Use Cases

Primary applications are found in academic and scientific research for analyzing movement patterns in ecology, urban planning, and transportation. For instance, it has been used to study animal migration routes, model air traffic control scenarios, and simulate evacuation planning during natural disasters. The framework has also served as a testbed for algorithms in computational geometry and for benchmarking queries in projects like the BerlinMOD benchmark. Its principles inform commercial location-based service platforms and intelligent transportation systems.

Development and Implementation

The core system is implemented in C++, chosen for its performance and object-oriented capabilities needed for the extensible design. Development has been supported by grants from the German Research Foundation and through participation in European Commission-funded initiatives. The team has released the software under an open-source license, fostering collaboration with other institutions like the University of Bonn and the National Technical University of Athens. Ongoing work focuses on distributed query processing and integration with Big data frameworks like Apache Spark.

Impact and Legacy

It has had a significant impact on the field of spatial database research, providing a concrete, implementable reference for managing moving objects. Numerous academic papers from conferences like VLDB, ACM SIGMOD, and International Conference on Advances in Geographic Information Systems cite its design and capabilities. Its concepts influenced later research systems and commercial tools, bridging the gap between theoretical models, such as those presented in Güting's publications, and practical implementation. The system remains a vital educational tool for teaching advanced database concepts at universities worldwide.

Category:Database management systems Category:Spatial database management systems Category:Free database management systems Category:Software using the GPL license