A fundamental feature of a physical object is not only its connection to the physical, but also to temporal characteristics. A standardized conceptual schema for describing temporal properties of spatial objects increases the usability of geospatial information for specific types of applications, such as spatial-temporal simulation or modelling predictions. That is why spatial data are of interest to a wide range of scientific and technical disciplines, but also other fields such as energy, telecommunications, marketing, finance, etc.
Each object of the real world can be put in place by joining a specific set of coordinates in a reference coordinate system. Similarly, spatial data can be placed in the timeline by defining time coordinates in a reference time scale.
As a fundamental physical quantity, the time dimension is analogous to any other spatial dimension. Like space, time also has geometry and topology. An object occupies a position in time, which can be determined in relation to the temporal reference system. As an object, we can determine the temporal reference system, so it is possible to determine the temporal relationships of mutual spatial objects. Temporal relationships of spatial objects such as before, after, for a period, form time topology.
Historically, temporal characteristics of objects were treated as thematic attributes of spatial objects. For example, a "building" object can have a "date of construction" attribute. New trends require describing characteristics of objects as a function of time.
Operators of civil protection and civil administration dealing with spatial planning, environmental management and crisis management should apply spatial-temporal processing of geoinformation in support of decision making. The current spatial data infrastructure (SDI), or the future European Spatial Data Infrastructure does not recognize these needs as only partially provide the ability to manage temporal aspects of spatial data. Integration of INSPIRE geodata sets and operational databases used for crisis management and civil protection is not satisfactory.
One of the outcomes of the BRISEIDE project is the extension of the data model developed in the context of previous EU projects, as well as the proposed extension of the INSPIRE metadata profile with elements for describing temporal characteristics of spatial data. Project results were tested and validated in different contextual scenarios within the BRISEIDE framework across the EU with an emphasis on crisis management.
Different approaches of temporal modelling of spatial data for the BRISEIDE project and the BRISEIDE metadata profile created by expanding the INSPIRE metadata profile with elements of ISO 19115 standards will be presented in this paper.