Importing PostGIS Spatial Database – Avenza Systems

Overview

PostGIS is an extension to the PostgreSQL object-relational database system which allows GIS objects to be stored in the database. PostGIS includes support for GiST-based R-Tree spatial indexes, and functions for analysis and processing of GIS objects.

Importing PostGIS Spatial Geodatabase

In the Import or Multiple Data Import > Add dialog box, set the Format drop-down list to PostGIS. <Auto detect format> does not detect PostGIS spatial databases. Click the Click to select database link to open the Browse PostGIS dialog box.

postgis-import

The Browse PostGIS Database dialog box has options to create, edit and delete connection parameters to PostGIS servers. It also stores recently used and saved MAP Datasets.

postgis-browse

PostGIS Database Connection

In Geographic Imager, apply the same connection parameters as in the PostGIS database so a connection can be made.

postgis-create-connection

Select Tables

Feature classes are referred to as tables using PostGIS. In the Select Tables dialog box, directly import one or more tables or build SQL queries to select attributes of tables. To directly select tables, click the names of the table to import—selected tables are highlighted. To deselect a table, click the selected name again.

postgis-select-tables

Specify Spatial Filter

A spatial filter consists of a rectangle that defines the extents of imported data. Use extents of an existing MAP Layer from the drop-down list or enter new coordinates values manually. When setting points manually, enter two opposite corner coordinates that represent the actual extent of the data. When MAP Locations exist on the document, it is possible to use them to specify corner coordinates. If required, click the Input Coordinate System link to use an alternate coordinate system for the inputs.

specify_spatial_filter

Create SQL Select Query

An SQL statement can be built to limit the number of objects and attributes imported from a single feature class. The SELECT clause should always contain one and one only "Shape" object (actual spatial feature). When possible, use the operator button to add formatted query statements (including spaces), to limit the typing errors.

create_sql_query_postgis

An example of SQL select queries:

Example	SQL Select Query
In feature class "ocean_depth", import all areas that have a "Dalve" attribute value of less than 5000.	SELECT "ocean_depth"."geom" FROM "ocean_depth" WHERE "ocean_depth"."depth" < 5000
In feature class "FC_Line", import lines (vector only) that have the attribute "Id" equals to 1, 2, 3 or 4.	SELECT FC_Line.Shape FROM FC_Line WHERE FC_Line.Id IN (1,2,3,4)

It is recommended to use the Validate button to verify the query syntax prior to import.

Multiple feature classes can be imported using multiple SQL statements separated by a semi-colon (;) as long as all classes share the same source coordinate system. SQL queries can also be used to import a feature class and the attribute information from a related non-spatial table (see the previous section).

Recently used SQL queries are saved and accessed by clicking the Recent button. The number of recent queries saved is set in the Geographic Imager Preferences on Spatial Database > General Spatial Database Editor.