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More and more GIS solutions are moving towards storing their
spatial geometry, in addition to their attribute data, in spatially
enabled relational database management systems (RDBMS). The spatial
data is stored in the relational model, which has particular benefits
as outlined below. ESBI Computing can provide spatial database
products and services, based on either of the two industry leading
RDBMS - Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server.
Benefits of spatial RDBMS
Key benefits to managing the spatial and attribute data in a
single database include:
- Better data management for spatial data. Users gain access
to fully functional spatial information systems based on industry
standards with an open interface to their data (eg. SQL)
- Spatial data is stored in enterprise-wide database, thereby
facilitating spatial enablement of many more applications
- Reduced complexity of systems management by eliminating the
hybrid or file based architectures of traditional GIS-based
data management schemes
- Proprietary data structures are avoided by using an open SQL
platform, thereby allowing for the seamless integration of e-Business
and location-based service
Object-relational databases (ORDBMS) have become the new standard
for addressing the growing data management and analysis needs
of non-traditional database applications such as Spatial Information
Systems. Two critical issues must be resolved to effectively meet
the requirements of these applications.
- Representation
- Content-based search of multimedia and spatial data
Unlike traditional database applications, spatial applications
require that databases understand more complex data types like
points, lines, and polygons. Oracle Spatial addresses these issues
for spatial data by providing an object data type (SDO_GEOMETRY),
indexing capability, and functions/operators on SDO_GEOMETRY.
It enables spatial data to be stored, accessed, and analyzed quickly
and efficiently in an Oracle9i database.
This gives application
developers the facility to store all location (geographically
referenced) information within an industry standard database server
without having to resort to custom-built external indexes and
functions to get the functionality they need.
Users of spatial
data have access to standard Oracle9i features, plus enhanced
features such as bigger database size limits, faster back-up and
recovery, and Java stored procedures in the database.
Traditionally, database management systems are broadly divided
into two categories: relational and object-oriented. Recently,
a third type of database system has become prominent. These are
called the Object Relational database systems (ORDBMS). These
systems combine the best of both the relational and object oriented
databases.
Object-relational database systems facilitate the definition,
storage, retrieval, and manipulation of user-defined data types
in the database through the use of user-defined functions and
index methods. Thus an ORDBMS can now handle spatial information
represented using a spatial object data type, and accessed or
manipulated using spatial index methods and functions. Because
spatial is now just another attribute represented in the database,
it can be used as another qualifier or criteria when searching
or browsing the database.
Visit www.oracle.com for more information on Oracle 9i Spatial.
Business today demands a different kind of data management solution.
Performance, scalability, and reliability are essential, but businesses
now expect more from their key IT investments. SQL Server exceeds
dependability requirements and provides innovative capabilities
that increase employee effectiveness, integrate heterogeneous
IT ecosystems, and maximise capital and operating budgets. SQL
Server 2000 provides the enterprise data management platform your
organisation needs to adapt quickly in a fast-changing environment.
With the lowest implementation and maintenance costs in the industry,
SQL Server 2000 delivers rapid return on your data management
investment. SQL Server 2000 supports the rapid development of
enterprise-class business applications that can give your company
a critical competitive advantage. Benchmarked for scalability,
speed, and performance, SQL Server 2000 is a fully enterprise-class
database product, providing core support for Extensible Markup
Language (XML) and Internet queries.
SQL Server can be implemented as part of a spatial RDBMS solution
with MapInfo's SpatialWare for SQL Server.
Visit www.microsoft.com for more information on Microsoft SQL Server.
Tool for storing, managing and manipulating spatial data in a
relational database
MapInfo SpatialWare® data management software enables businesses
to store, manage, and manipulate location-based (or spatial) data
within a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS). This data
includes a variety of non-traditional data types, such as digital
representations of highways, fiber-optic lines, sales territories
or land parcels - each with a physical component. SpatialWare®,
allows spatial data to be stored in the same place as traditional
data, ensuring data accessibility, integrity, reliability and
security.
SpatialWare® is available in two configurations, SpatialWare® for
Microsoft SQL Server and SpatialWare DataBlade for Informix 9.2
Databases
MapInfo SpatialWare®, offers more than 150 spatial functions -
and the richest set of functionality in its class - and is ideal
for:
- Cost-effective, centralized storage and management of location-based
data
- Universal accessibility (of otherwise inaccessible) location-based
data
- Large-scale deployment of powerful GIS functions and mapping
applications - aligns with ISO SQL-1999 and ISO SQL/MM standards
and widely used IT data storage and management practices
- High levels of security, back-up and integrity for valuable
location-based data
- Bringing the analytical power and speed of RDBMS to location-based
SQL queries
 MapInfo SpatialWare®
MapInfo® GIS Extension data cartridge lets you add a rich set
of spatial functions to Oracle8i Spatial for enhanced spatial
analysis capabilities. MapInfo® GIS Extension and Oracle8i Spatial
work together seamlessly, providing an enterprise-wide solution
to better leverage spatial information. It operates on Oracle's
object-relational geometry data-type and is accessible through
all programmatic interfaces supported by Oracle, such as OCI,
ODBC, JDBC, PL/SQL and SQLJ.
Once installed, you gain access to
a robust set of SQL functions to meet the growing demands of custom
spatial applications. You can create the geometry you want with
easy-to-use constructor functions. Use one of eight constructor
functions to quickly generate specific geometries, such as a box,
circle, three-dimensional point or an even more complex geometry,
such as an object with islands.
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Overview
