Extending the Relational Database Data Model for Design Applications

In recent years many researchers have tried to apply the traditional database systems to design applications. To date, most of these experiments have been largely unsuccessful. Insufficient computing power may be one reason for this failure. However, the problem may be more fundamental. We believe the data models of the traditional database systems are intrinsically unsuited for design applications. In this paper we give reasons for this opinion and describe an enhanced relational model which removes some of the weaknesses we have identified.