A geodatabase builds stable platform also with large datasets allowing a comprehensive management and analysis of altogether: digitized or calculated maps (sediments, bathymetry, currents, geological processes,...) and field data. In querying this line-, polygon-, raster, and point data it optimizes the use of the available data. Furthermore, the database establishes the basis for the implementation of geostatistical and multivariate statistical applications and finally the answer of several scientif questions, e.g the definition of distinct provinces at the seafloor.

The ArcGIS geodatabase supports an object-oriented vector data model. In this model, entities are represented as objects with properties, behaviour, and relationships (comparable to the rDBMS in Mircosoft Access). Support for a variety of different geographic object types is built into the system. These object types include simple objects, geographic features (objects with location), network features (objects with geometric integration with other features), annotation features, and other more specialized feature types. The model allows to define relationships between objects, together with rules for maintaining the referential integrity between objects. A reasonable data model design and a database tuning within the ArcGIS are required to use the geodatabase as a multiuser GIS system. ArcCatalog has various tools for creating and modifying the geodatabase schema, while ArcMap has tools for analyzing and editing the contents of the geodatabase.