Spatial Database Design and Management

Contents: Foreword. 1. Object Modelling and Geodatabases. 2. How Maps inform. 3. Smart features. 4. Managing work flow with versions. 5. Geodatabase design guide. 6. GIS Data representations. 7. The Structures of geographic data. 8. The Shape of features. 9. Linear modeling with networks. 10. Cell-based modeling with rasters. 11. Surface modeling with TINs. 12. Finding Locations. Bibliography. Index.

A spatial database is a database that is optimized to store and query data related to objects in space, including points, lines and polygons. While typical databases can understand various numeric and character types of data, additional functionality needs to be added for databases to process spatial data types. These are typically called geometry or feature. The open geospatial consortium created the simple features specification and sets standards for adding spatial functionality to database systems. OGC Homepage.

Database systems use indexes to quickly look up values and the way that most databases index data is not optimal for spatial queries. Instead, spatial databases use a spatial index to speed up database operations.

Inaddition to typical SQL queries such as SELECT statements, spatial databases can perform wide variety of spatial operations. The following query types and many more are supported by the Open Geospatial Consortium.

1. Spatial Measurements: Finds the distance between points, polygon area, etc.
2. Spatial Functions: Modify existing features to create new ones, for example by providing a buffer around them, interesting features, etc.
3. Spatial Predicates: Allows true/false queries such as is there a residence located within a mile of the area we are planning to build the landfill?
4. Constructor Functions: Creates new features with an SQL query specifying the vertices (points of nodes) which can make up lines. If the first and last vertex of a line is identical the feature can also be of the type polygon (a closed line).
5. Observer Functions: Queries which return specific information about a feature such as the location of the center of a circle.

This book will be of immense help to all those contemplating to acquire expert knowledge of Spatial Database Design.