Spatial databases

Spatial data are associated with geographical locations. A spatial database is a database system that provides spatial data types in its data model and query language and supports spatial data types in its implementation. This unit focuses on the theories that underpin the design of such spatially enabled databases and the fundamental principles and methods in their implementation. The major contents include the concepts of database systems and database models, structured query language, spatial database models and spatial database design, spatial data types, spatial indexing and spatial join, spatial operators and spatial querying, enterprise spatial databases and their implementation. It also introduces the open-source Postgres database management system and its spatial extension PostGIS, and ESRI’s proprietary file, mobile and enterprise geodatabases, and uses them as tools to facilitate the understanding of theories and the development of design and implementation skills.