Point-source database theory and its application in database architecture design of digital mine

Mining belongs to resources industry and geological exploration acts a fundamental role in its subsistence. The information system in mining enterprise consists of three types: data-oriented system, such as geological point-source information system; process-oriented system, such as enterprise management information system; and finance-oriented system, such as enterprise financial information system. As a reflection to the important role of geological exploration, the geodata-oriented information system is the basis for informatization in mining enterprise. In big mining corporation which manages more than one mine, the geological information system construction frequently faces several problems: 1) pursuing the efficient functions in short time and ignoring the data management; 2) as a result, without clear data basis which satisfies the multi-subject application; 3) the information islands caused by the independent systems in different subcorporations or departments. These infract the basic rule of information engineering which takes data management as the core of information system. The point-source database theory may supply a scheme in the database structure design. Its meaning includes two parts: the “point” indicates that it is the minitype workstation for basic survey and exploration units and “source” indicates that it is also a node in geological and mineral information network within the corporation. The key principle of the theory is taking data management as the core of data integration. The guarantee for successful application is the standardization of terms, codes, legends and procedures in execution. With the point-source theory, the realized subject database bands the current data models and future data models together. The inherent attributes of data and the classification system ensure the correct structure, while the attributes classification system is also independent from the data application modes. The functions of data analysis and data processing in the information system renovates quickly. But the primary data types and data structures can satisfy them a long time with little emendation.