Abstract: To support the studies of urban evolution and development about urban form and spatial structure, the data expression of the characteristics of urban form and spatial structure is a basis. The characteristics are based on some typical events during urban development as the tangible footprints carved on regional space. As an important tool to express information of history, geography and culture, the spatio-temporal data model can completely express time, space and semantic feature of the objective world. The typical events of Beijing during urban development are extracted. A multi-dimension constellation snapshot data model is presented to study the facts and characteristics of spatio-temporal data based on the historical events. This model based on relational frameworks synthesizes the traits of multi-dimension constellation model and snapshot data model to express features of history and geography at different stages in Beijing. It offers a conceptual representation for dataware model for spatio-temporal data integration and analysis of spatial features.

Key words: multi-dimension constellation model, snapshot model, spatio-temporal data, historical events, urban form, urban spatial structure, Beijing