About the book

Processing data tied to location and topology requires specialized know-how. PostGIS is a free spatial database extender for PostgreSQL, every bit as good as proprietary software. With it, you can easily create location-aware queries in just a few lines of SQL code and build the back end for a mapping, raster analysis, or routing application with minimal effort.

PostGIS in Action, Second Edition teaches you to solve real-world geodata problems. It first gives you a background in vector-, raster-, and topology-based GIS and then quickly moves into analyzing, viewing, and mapping data. You'll learn how to optimize queries for maximum speed, simplify geometries for greater efficiency, and create custom functions for your own applications. You'll also learn how to apply your existing GIS knowledge to PostGIS and integrate with other GIS tools.

Familiarity with relational database and GIS concepts is helpful but not required.

What's inside

• An introduction to spatial databases
• Geometry, geography, raster, and topology spatial types, functions, and queries
• Applying PostGIS to real-world problems
• Extending PostGIS to web and desktop applications
• Updated for PostGIS 2.x and PostgreSQL 9.x

About the authors

Regina Obe and Leo Hsu are database consultants and authors. Regina is a member of the PostGIS core development team and the Project Steering Committee.