Logical → Physical Mapping
Map logical entities to physical sources, virtually, with no data movement required.
Lesson 7 of 17 · Find it on the platform map
01 What it is
What this layer does
This layer connects each logical business entity, such as customer, to the physical tables, objects and reports that hold it. In SCIKIQ the mapping is virtual — it records where the data lives without requiring data to be moved. Each mapping carries a confidence score and source evidence, alongside measured quality, ownership, refresh, latency and usage.
02 Concepts
Four ideas to hold on to
Logical versus physical model
A logical model describes business entities and relationships independent of technology; a physical model describes the actual tables, columns and objects. Mapping is the bridge between them.
Virtual mapping
Recording where an entity lives without copying it into a new store. The mapping can be used for query and governance while data stays in its source systems.
Confidence and evidence
A mapping is a claim that can be wrong. Attaching a confidence score and the source evidence behind it lets reviewers check and correct it.
One metric, several realisations
The same logical metric is often calculated in more than one system, each slightly differently. SCIKIQ records each realisation so the differences are visible rather than hidden.
03 In SCIKIQ
What the layer contains
04 What good looks like
Signs it is working
- For any core entity, you can list every physical system that holds it, with an owner for each.
- Every mapping shows a confidence score and the evidence it rests on.
- Measured quality, refresh frequency and latency are shown per source, not assumed.
- Where a metric is realised in several systems, each version is listed and the differences are known.
05 Diagnostics
Questions to ask your team
- 1
Where does our customer actually live, and which system do we treat as authoritative?
- 2
Which mappings are low confidence, and who is responsible for confirming them?
- 3
How fresh is each source when we use it, measured rather than promised?
- 4
Which of our metrics are calculated in more than one place, and do the versions agree?
06 Keep going
Related reading
— Questions
Frequently asked
Does mapping mean moving data into one warehouse?
No. In SCIKIQ the mapping is virtual, so no data movement is required to know where an entity lives.
Why show a confidence score?
Some mappings are certain and some are inferred. The score and its evidence tell people how far to trust a mapping and where human review is needed.
Can an entity map to a BI tool as well as a database?
Yes. SCIKIQ maps a logical customer across systems such as SAP, Salesforce, Oracle, Snowflake and Power BI.