What is PostGIS?
PostGIS is an open source software program that adds support for geographic objects to the PostgreSQL object-relational database. PostGIS follows the Simple Features for SQL specification from the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). This enables PostgreSQL to store, query, and manipulate spatial data efficiently.
Key capabilities and features of PostGIS include:
- Implements spatial data types like geometry, geography, raster and others as defined by OGC
- Allows location queries to be run in SQL with functions like ST_Intersects, ST_Within, ST_Distance, alongside regular SQL queries
- Extensive spatial indexing and processing functions for vector and raster data
- Utilities for importing/exporting shapefiles and other geographic data formats
- Topology support for advanced spatial analysis and processing
- Support for coordinate reference systems with reprojection on the fly
- Cross platform and integrates with many GIS clients and APIs
With PostGIS, PostgreSQL can store geographic objects like points, lines, polygons, track locations, image raster datasets and perform spatial queries, analysis and advanced processing on this data within the SQL environment. It is used to build geospatial databases and systems in areas like mapping, navigation, analytics and more.
MapInfo Professional, ArcGIS, CartoDB, KML viewer and converter, Spotzi, gvSIG Desktop, SpatiaLite, GeoSheets, GRASS GIS, Mapline, Mapserver, Maptitude, Azimap GIS, TdhGIS, Manifold are some alternatives to PostGIS.