Book Image

Mastering PostGIS

By : Dominik Mikiewicz, Michal Mackiewicz , Tomasz Nycz
Book Image

Mastering PostGIS

By: Dominik Mikiewicz, Michal Mackiewicz , Tomasz Nycz

Overview of this book

PostGIS is open source extension onf PostgreSQL object-relational database system that allows GIS objects to be stored and allows querying for information and location services. The aim of this book is to help you master the functionalities offered by PostGIS- from data creation, analysis and output, to ETL and live edits. The book begins with an overview of the key concepts related to spatial database systems and how it applies to Spatial RMDS. You will learn to load different formats into your Postgres instance, investigate the spatial nature of your raster data, and finally export it using built-in functionalities or 3th party tools for backup or representational purposes. Through the course of this book, you will be presented with many examples on how to interact with the database using JavaScript and Node.js. Sample web-based applications interacting with backend PostGIS will also be presented throughout the book, so you can get comfortable with the modern ways of consuming and modifying your spatial data.
Table of Contents (9 chapters)

Processing and analysis


Now we are ready to start processing our dataset and make some scientific analysis.

The most common use cases of raster data are imagery, DEM, and statistical data. Right now, we'll look closer to Digital Elevation Model processing.

We can use the following:

  • ST_Slope
  • ST_Hillshade
  • ST_Aspect
  • ST_TPI
  • ST_TRI
  • ST_Roughness

All these functions are internally realized as MapAlgebra Callback functions. Later we will see how to do it on our way. So, calculate the slope values of our DEM data. The function syntax is like this:

ST_Slope(raster rast, integer nband=1, text pixeltype=32BF, text units=DEGREES, double precision scale=1.0, boolean interpolate_nodata=FALSE); 

We should especially pay attention to scale parameter. In case of geographical coordinate reference systems (such as our imported data), when units of distance are in degrees, and elevation in meters, use scale=111120, or in case of imperial units set it to 370400. Units parameter offers DEGREE, RADIANS, or PERCENT as a result...