[postgis-users] When and Why use a DB?

[Obe, Regina DND\MIS]

A spatial database has various advantages over simple shape files.  The main
advantage I have found is the ability to do complex spatial calculations
such as returning what objects are near one another, what objects are within
a vicinity of another , what is the area of a particular region, what is the
extent of a region where certain activity is taking place, what objects are
within one another.

It is also easier to join spatial data with non-spatial data in a spatial
database environment and gives you the full power of SQL  to do other
analysis such as

What is the average expenditure for a particular geographic region etc.

So PostGIS is useful as a datasource for Mapserver, but is useful in and of
itself to provide another dimension (a spatial dimension) for generating
useful tabular reports.

-----Original Message-----
From: Hopper [mailto:nathanh at broszengineering.com]
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 10:49 AM
To: postgis-users at postgis.refractions.net
Subject: [postgis-users] When and Why use a DB?


Now that I've compiled and installed both Postgres and PostGIS, I'm stumped.
Perhaps I've gotten a bit ahead of myself in this, but what are some
advantages to using a database versus the standard, individual shapefiles? I
understand the concepts of databases, and RDMBS, but I don't see a clear
connection to how this will enhance things.

I see one advantage being the ability to easily integrate with the Mapserver
environment for distribution to remote clients, but what are the internal
advantages? The distribution of data via and intranet and the Internet is
the main reason we are deploying PostGIS, but I'm curious how else it might
be utilized. I didn't see anything in the docs or on the main website that
might suggest a greater scope of use, though I know one must exist.

There is some mention that the Postgre/PostGIS setup is similar in theory to
ArcSDE and a commercial database, but so far as I can discern, this isn't
the main goal of the project.

Any commentary or clarification is appreciated.

Regards,
Nathan



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