[postgis-users] PostGIS vs Oracle Spatial/MS SQL2008

[Chris Puttick]

I'm showing my bias here, but there is one major consideration your client should include: strategy.

Obviously if they have a strategy that says "I don't care what it costs, now or in the future" they should choose the one with the most features right now, just in case the features are something they might use; or if they have a strategy that says "if Microsoft make it, we like it" (popular in the UK, that one), then MSSQL is the only option.

But if they have a strategy that is interested in future choice and flexibility, about reducing costs in the long term, and/or a desire to reduce risk, then (if it right now has, or by the time the project has been implemented will have, the features they need) PostGIS is the best option.

If of interest, the detail of how those strategic issues result in the open choice can be expanded upon.

Regards

Chris

----- postgis-users-request at postgis.refractions.net wrote:

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> Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:18:06 +0100
> From: Peter Hopfgartner <peter.hopfgartner at r3-gis.com>
> Subject: Re: [postgis-users] PostGIS vs Oracle Spatial/MS SQL2008
> To: PostGIS Users Discussion <postgis-users at postgis.refractions.net>
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> 
> Based on my current project, I would split down the decision as:
> 
> 1) Is there any know how on administering PostgreSQL or Oracle at your
> 
> client side?
> 
> The human factor is crucial. Databases are often vital and the 
> confidence that you have in dumping/restoring/optimizing/planning 
> deployment is an important factor.
> 
> 2) Which tools will be used for accessing the database. PostGIS is 
> typically better supported in Open Source tools. You can directly
> access 
> PostGIS in QGIS, gvSIG, MapServer etc., whereas for Oracle you
> typically 
> have to recompile (MapServer) or use some plugin (gvSIG), which may
> not 
> be up to date, etc.
> 
> 3) Which features do you need. Oracle has some features that might
> take 
> it apart, among those are: robust topology implementation, routing 
> (pgRouting is the PostGIS-based alternative), raster (will come with 
> PostGIS in some future version), geography (earth as a sphere, instead
> 
> as a plane, but will be included in the next version of PostGIS,
> too).
> 
> 4) Which platform will host your database. If you run some common
> Linux 
> distro, PostgreSQL/PostGIS is much better integrated and updating is a
> 
> no minder. For running Oracle you will have to change some kernel 
> parameters, disable SE-Linux and have some "blog" that lives completly
> 
> outside of your well managed RPM packging. If you use some kind of 
> Ubuntu, Oracle is not certified. On Windows, this is not an issue.
> 
> My very personal  impression is, that PostgreSQL/PostGIS has fewer 
> features, but does them very well and I find it's SQL implementation 
> more elegant  and consistent. Oracle frequently feels like a 
> many-tons-truck, which is ok, if you need a many-tons-truck. But not,
> if 
> you are fine with a lighter vehicle.
> 
> Peter
> Bruce Foster wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I'm in middle of making a decision for a client of mine, where I'm
> > inclined to PostGIS.
> >
> > Now to convince the client, I really need to show the value that
> out
> > weight Oracle Spatial and MS SQL2008. We are not talking cost here,
> so
> > that option is not considered.
> >
> > I searched for some comparison on net but not much to my delight.
> So,
> > let me ask the user community and I really hope to get some
> > interesting facts about PostGIS so I can hold to my thesis with the
> > customer.
> >
> > a. Read somewhere on Topology. Hope someone throw more light on
> this.
> > b. Versioning, which is not available in Postgres
> >
> > On a related note, can we edit directly on PostGIS using MapInfo,
> > ArcGIS Desktop, AutoCad Map3D etc.
> >
> > uDIG, QGIS allow direct connectivity to PostGIS, hope they allow
> > direct file editing too.
> >
> >
> >    
> -- 
>  
> Dott. Peter Hopfgartner
>  
> R3 GIS Srl - GmbH
> Via Johann Kravogl-Str. 2
> I-39012 Meran/Merano (BZ)
> Email: peter.hopfgartner at r3-gis.com
> Tel. : +39 0473 494949
> Fax  : +39 0473 069902
> www  : http://www.r3-gis.com
> 


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