Data model (ArcGIS)

In ArcGIS, a data model a set of database design specifications for objects in a GIS application. A data model describes the thematic layers used in the applications (for example, hamburger stands, roads, and counties); their spatial representation (for example, point, line, or polygon); their attributes; their integrity rules and relationships (for example, counties must nest within states); their cartographic portrayal; and their metadata requirements.