Super Lightweight Spatial Database [SpatiaLite]

Superlight Spatial Database [SpatiaLite]

After a quick review of 'Free' Open Source GIS software. Had a look at Spatial Databases
There is a SpatiaLite - and it's easy to use 1,2,3 Go! (five minute guide)

What can you do quickly?


What is an MBR? Above graphically shows the Bottom Left and Top Right of a rectangle using this as an extent to find spatial features within.This is one of the most basic ways to find something spatially.
More on MBR [Minimum Bounding Rectangle] Function [Wiki]


SQL request to find all features within the MBR

*Data used was OpenStreetMap in shapefile format
Not saying this is best spatial database out there but is certain to be the quickest to download,install and load data within it.

Features:
* Enhanced GUI tool v1.2
* SQL mathematical functions
* EXIF-GPS geometry-handling functions
* Virtual Table module VirtualNetwork
* Supporting routing [Dijkstra's Shortest Path algorithm]
* Supports importing and exporting to shapefiles [big plus]
* Supports standard WKT and WKB formats

Tutorials and Documentation to get you started.
http://www.gaia-gis.it/spatialite/docs.html

Why Super Lightweight? [8.3mb windows application] that's why.

Related links:
http://www.gaia-gis.it/spatialite/ [Main Homepage]
http://groups.google.com/group/spatialite-users?pli=1 [Google Group - Spatialite]

http://mapperz.blogspot.com/2008/09/open-street-map-in-shapefile-format.html
http://www.geofabrik.de/data/download.html [Open Street Map data in shapefiles]

Downloads
http://www.gaia-gis.it/spatialite/binaries.html [Applications for Mac,Windows,Linux]
http://www.gaia-gis.it/spatialite/resources.html [Sample Databases, Routing, Test Scripts]

Mapperz

Postgres Plus Released (25-Mar-08)

Postgres Plus has been launched

"Postgres Plus is an easy-to-use lightning-fast and massively scalable open source database for today's Web 2.0 and next generation applications."


Postgres Plus benefits include:

• Fully open source and pre-configured binary distribution supports the most popular environments, including Linux 32 and 64, Windows, and Mac

• 5-minute install automatically delivers the most commonly needed PostgreSQL add-ons, including advanced encryption and client connectors for Java, Ruby/Rails, PHP, Ajax, J2EE, and REST/Web Services

• Automated MySQL migration tools let you move existing applications in no time

• Update notification service lets you know about important updates that need to be installed

*Postgres Plus is "spatially enabled", allowing it to be used as a back-end spatial database for geographic information systems (GIS) or any of the Mapping API's out there (Gooogle Maps API, Virtual Earth API, Yahoo Maps API('s), etc)).

Getting Started, with walk-through screenshots available
http://www.enterprisedb.com/learning/getting_started.do

Documentation
http://www.enterprisedb.com/learning/documentation.do

Download (Mac, Windows , Linux)
http://www.enterprisedb.com/products/download.do
(Windows Version is 116mb)


Please Note: "Postgres Plus Advanced Server (Developer)" is Free
Postgres Plus Advanced Server (Subscription) is $5,995 per socket


Postgres Plus is Compatible with PostGIS
http://postgis.refractions.net/

phpPgAdmin 4.2-Beta-2 is also available
http://phppgadmin.sourceforge.net/?page=download