ABSTRACT
As a process , data modeling is often so implicit that its significance is hardly recognized. Whenever observations are made about the world and assembled in some framework, such as a table or a collection of marks on a sheet of paper, the framework constitutes a data model. A table, for example, provides a framework in the form of a collection of cells whose values can be inserted from field observations. In turn, the table provides data for analysis, which ultimately conditions and constraints the types of models and theories that can be developed as contributions to science or to practical problems. Computer databases require data models to be explicit, especially if users are to take advantage of functions related to specific data models. For example, if data are to be assembled into the framework of a table by inserting numerical values into the table’s cells, then in addition to the framework itself (the basic table), functions can be provided in advance for routine table functions, such as totaling columns or printing. Microsoft’s Excel represents a software environment built on this simple model of data assembled in a table, whereas Word’s implicit data model is a linear stream of text. This paper describes the significance of data modeling in the context of emergencies.
