PostGIS in Action, Third Edition shows you how to solve real-world geodata problems. You’ll go beyond basic mapping, and explore custom functions for your applications.

Summary

In PostGIS in Action, Third Edition you will learn:

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

Querying data from external sources using PostgreSQL Foreign Data Wrappers

Optimizing queries for maximum speed

Simplifying geometries for greater efficiency

PostGIS in Action, Third Edition teaches readers of all levels to write spatial queries for PostgreSQL. You’ll start by exploring vector-, raster-, and topology-based GIS before quickly progressing to analyzing, viewing, and mapping data. This fully updated third edition covers key changes in PostGIS 3.1 and PostgreSQL 13, including parallelization support, partitioned tables, and new JSON functions that help in creating web mapping applications.

Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications.

About the technology

PostGIS is a spatial database extender for PostgreSQL. It offers the features and firepower you need to take on nearly any geodata task. PostGIS lets you create location-aware queries with a few lines of SQL code, then build the backend for mapping, raster analysis, or routing application with minimal effort.

About the book

PostGIS in Action, Third Edition shows you how to solve real-world geodata problems. You’ll go beyond basic mapping, and explore custom functions for your applications. Inside this fully updated edition, you’ll find coverage of new PostGIS features such as PostGIS Window functions, parallelization of queries, and outputting data for applications using JSON and Vector Tile functions.

What's inside

Fully revised for PostGIS version 3.1 and PostgreSQL 13

Optimize queries for maximum speed

Simplify geometries for greater efficiency

Extend PostGIS to web and desktop applications

About the reader

For readers familiar with relational databases and basic SQL. No prior geodata or GIS experience required.

About the author

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.

Table of Contents

PART 1 INTRODUCTION TO POSTGIS

1 What is a spatial database?

2 Spatial data types

3 Spatial reference systems

4 Working with real data

5 Using PostGIS on the desktop

6 Geometry and geography functions

7 Raster functions

8 Spatial relationships

PART 2 PUTTING POSTGIS TO WORK

9 Proximity analysis

10 PostGIS TIGER geocoder

11 Geometry and geography processing

12 Raster processing

13 Building and using topologies

14 Organizing spatial data

15 Query performance tuning

PART 3 USING POSTGIS WITH OTHER TOOLS

16 Extending PostGIS with pgRouting and procedural languages

17 Using PostGIS in web applications

About the Authors

Leo Hsu is a co-principal of Paragon Corporation, a database consulting company based in Boston. He has over 15 years of professional experience developing and thinking about databases for organizations large and small. Leo holds an MS degree in engineering of economic systems from Stanford University and BS degrees in mechanical engineering and economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He co-authored PostGIS in Action.

Regina Obe is a member of the PostGIS core development team and the Project Steering Committee. Her company, Paragon Corporation, was founded in 1997, together with her husband Leo Hsu, and has provided database and GIS solutions for a broad range of clients. They also host two sites: BostonGIS.com and PostgresOnline.com.