Whether you're canvassing a congressional district, managing a sales
region, mapping city bus schedules, or analyzing local cancer rates,
thinking spatially opens up limitless possibilities for database users.
PostGIS, a freely available open-source spatial database extender, can
help you answer questions that you could not answer using a mere
relational database. Its feature set equals or surpasses proprietary
alternatives, allowing you to create location-aware queries and features
with just a few lines of SQL code.
PostGIS in Action is the first book devoted entirely to PostGIS. It
will help both new and experienced users write spatial queries to solve
real-world problems. For those with experience in more traditional
relational databases, this book provides a background in vector-based
GIS so you can quickly move to analyzing, viewing, and mapping data.
Advanced users will learn how to optimize queries for maximum speed,
simplify geometries for greater efficiency, and create custom functions
suited specifically to their applications. It also discusses the new
features available in PostgreSQL 8.4 and provides tutorials on using
additional open source GIS tools in conjunction with PostGIS.
Purchase of the print book comes with an offer of a free PDF, ePub, and
Kindle eBook from Manning. Also available is all code from the book.
