Spatial SQL

A Practical Approach to Modern GIS Using SQL

by Matthew Forrest

PDF $45.00
529 pages
ISBN (Print) 978-1-7387675-6-4
ISBN (PDF) 978-1-7387675-5-7
Published 2023-11-16

Learn to create, index and query spatial databases using SQL that applies to PostgreSQL/PostGIS and more.

What is Spatial SQL?

Learn how to use Spatial SQL to analyze and manipulate geographic data. This book covers everything from basic spatial queries to advanced spatial analysis techniques all using SQL. Even if you don't know how SQL, this book starts from the beginning all the way to advanced queries.

Over 500 pages covers a comprehensive set of GIS topics.

Why SQL?

The evolution to modern GIS, why spatial SQL matters, and the spatial SQL landscape today

Setting up

Installing PostGIS with Docker on any operating system

Thinking in SQL

How to move from desktop GIS to SQL and learn how to structure queries independently

The basics of SQL

Import data to PostgreSQL and PostGIS, SQL data types, and core SQL operations

Advanced SQL

Statistical functions, joins, window functions, managing data, and user-defined functions

Using the GEOMETRY

Working with GEOMETRY and GEOGRAPHY data, data manipulation, and measurements

Spatial relationships

Spatial joins, distance relationships, clustering, and overlay functions

Spatial analysis

Recreate common spatial analysis "toolbox" tools all in spatial SQL

Advanced analysis

Data enrichment, line of sight, kernel density estimation, and more

Raster data

Importing, analyzing, interpolating, and using H3 spatial indexes with raster data in PostGIS

Suitability analysis

Importing, analyzing, interpolating, and using H3 spatial indexes with raster data in PostGIS

Routing with pgRouting

Routing for cars and bikes, travel time isochrones, and traveling salesperson problem

Spatial data science

Spatial autocorrelation, location allocation, and create territories with PySAL in PostGIS

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Matthew Forrest

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Matt (Matthew) Forrest is passionate about using and sharing ideas around modern GIS, helping others to use a variety of new tools in their geospatial workflows while learning new technologies and skills. Matthew graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Geography and has been working with GIS and in Geospatial for 13 years, the past 8 at CARTO, currently as the Field CTO. He has worked with businesses and governments of all sizes and scales, and enjoys helping others advance their GIS careers.

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