SPATIAL DATABASE MODELING FOR SPELEOLOGICAL INVENTORY OF THE MOROCCAN ATLAS MOUNTAINS

Abstract. This research aims to create and manage a database structure to record, analyze and produce spatial and attribute data on the caves of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. The database model is developed as a Geodatabase for use in ArcGIS. Traditionally, cave scientists, or speleologists, have collected various data in multiple formats. In many cases, researchers collect the same data using different methodologies. This is undesirable, not only from the repetition of work, but perhaps more important because many more scientifically interesting caves are fragile environments that they cannot tolerate the collection of additional and especially redundant data. In addition, the geodatabase provides a common data format for sharing and sharing data between researchers.