We study the representation and manipulation of geospatial information in a database management system (DBMS). The geospatial data model that we use as a basis hinges on a complex object model, whose set and tuple constructors make it efficient for defining not only collections of geographic objects but also relationships among these objects. In addition, it allows easy manipulation of nonbasic types, such as spatial data types. We investigate the mapping of our reference model onto major commercial DBMS models, namely a relational model extended to abstract data types (ADT) and an object-oriented model. Our analysis shows the strengths and limits of the two model types for handling highly structured data with spatial components.