Online Spatial Database Clouds - SQL Azure

Online Spatial Database Clouds - SQL Azure
(spatial database support coming due to demand of user feedback)


Using a Spatial database (SQL Azure) to find Gas (petrol) Stations along a route.
New Functionality - Azure Spatial Database Support using cloud computing related topic - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL_Azure


Last Wednesday (March 17th), Dave Robinson of the SQL Azure Team announced upcoming support for spatial data in SQL Azure. You can view the announcement at the MIX Conference in the video of Dave’s presentation, Building Web Applications with Microsoft SQL Azure (go to 18:40 on the timeline for the start of the spatial data portion of his talk).

Spatial buffering a polyline - but across the web (not local database) - Windows SQL Azure will have spatial capabilities - to be released April 2010.

"SQL Azure provides a highly available and scalable relational database engine in the cloud. In this demo-intensive and interactive session, learn how to quickly build web applications with SQL Azure Databases and familiar web technologies. We demonstrate how you can quickly provision, build and populate a new SQL Azure database directly from your web browser. Also, see firsthand several new enhancements we are adding to SQL Azure based on the feedback we’ve received from the community since launching the service earlier this year."

This uses the same technology as Microsoft SQL 2008 Server
basically it supports latitude and longitude.

A "Flat Earth" (GEOMETRY or planar) data type represents geospatial data which has been projected from its native, spherical, coordinate system into a plane.
A "Round Earth" data type (GEOGRAPHY) uses an ellipsoidal model in which the Earth is defined as a single continuous entity.

source:
Video
http://live.visitmix.com/MIX10/Sessions/SVC07 (46.45) jump to 18.36if have no time.

Related blog
http://blogs.msdn.com/edkatibah/archive/2010/03/21/spatial-data-support-coming-to-sql-azure.aspx

SQL Azure Labs
http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlazure/archive/2010/03/19/9981936.aspx

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

UMapper Maps Adds Spatial Searches

UMapper Maps Adds Spatial Searches


Spatial Searching from a specific location, uing Yahoo Local Search for Businesses.

From the UMapper blog:

"Ever wanted to search for a local business or map all the pizza places in your town? Now that UMapper is integrated with Yahoo’s Local Search, you can do all of those things. To illustrate this new functionality, we have created a map of all Starbucks coffee shops within 3 mile radius of our office.

Here are some ideas of what you can do with this new functionality:

* Search for business within a certain geographic region
* Create maps with up-to-date local info
* Read business reviews
* Create interactive maps (like the one above) in less than 2 minutes"


Just want flash icons that are really, really flashy?



It is now possible to add SWF's as custom markers for your map.
UMapper has an example here http://www.umapper.com/maps/view/id/13608/

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