Spatial Databases: A Tour [Paperback]

Shashi Shekhar (Author), Sanjay Chawla (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130174807 | ISBN-13: 978-0130174802 | Publication Date: June 20, 2003 | Edition: 1

This book by leading experts in the field provides readers with a wide range of applications and methods for spatial database management systems, and allows readers to gain hands-on experience with examples in the book. It balances theory (cutting-edge research) and practice (commercial trends) to provide a comprehensive and clear overview. Includes coverage of GIS application trends as spatial networks; discussion of spatial data mining; overview of OGIS standard spatial datatypes and operations; object-relational database framework applied in each chapter. For professionals in the field of Databases, Geographic Information Systems, Geography, Remote Sensing, Multimedia Information, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Forestry, CAD/CAM, Health Informatics, and Natural Resource Management.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It is more up-to-date and provides a single reference for the topic, which otherwise gets dispersed in other books and papers. It provides a more detailed coverage of the basic issues in Spatial Database systems." — Alia I. Abehnoty, University of Glamorgan, Wales, UK

"It covers the entire field, from representation through query to analysis, in a style that is clear, logical, and rigorous. Especially welcome is the chapter on data mining." — Michael E Goodchild, NCGIA and Dept. of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara

"This volume, by surveying GIS and Database topics, allows it to be a stand-alone reference. There is really nothing else on the market, and it is a valuable and important area. It follows a good progression of topics and builds on previous chapters. Good coverage on indexing; good examples for querying." — Fred Petry, Tulane University

"This book was extremely valuable in understanding the state of the art in spatial databases due to emphasis on industry standard OGIS instead of on individual products." — Siva Ravada, Manager, Spatial Data Products Division, Oracle Corporation

From the Back Cover

This inter-disciplinary comprehensive text shows how to manage spatial data in GIS, CAD, and multimedia systems and their application domains. This book helps readers master various stages of traditional spatial database design and implementation, introducing conceptual models (e.g. pictogram-enhanced ERD), explaining query languages (e.g. OGIS, SQL3), and finally describing efficient implementations using query optimization algorithms as well as spatial storage and indexing methods (e.g. R-trees). For students or professionals, this book balances cutting-edge research and practice to provide many firsts.

OUTSTANDING FEATURES

• Comprehensive yet concise overview of Spatial Databases for students and practitioners.
• Self-contained treatment without assuming pre-requisite knowledge of GIS or Databases.
• Extensive use of industry standards, such as OGIS spatial data types and operations.
• Complete coverage of spatial networks including modeling, querying and storage methods.
• Detailed discussion of issues related to Spatial Data Mining.
• Balance between cutting-edge research and commercial trends.
• Variety of exercises at the end of each chapter.
• Easy-to-understand examples from common knowledge application-domains.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 262 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (June 20, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130174807
• ISBN-13: 978-0130174802
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #609,998 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #59 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Geography > Information Systems

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique Book, Wonderful Coverage, Highly recommended, October 20, 2004

By 

Y. Chen "Discovery Guy" (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spatial Databases: A Tour (Paperback)

This is a much-needed wonderful book on spatial databases--a "marriage" between geographical information systems (GIS) and Object-relational database management system (ORDBMS) in the past decade. One of the authors is a highly respected research leader of this field. The research strengths of the authors are reflected throughout the book, particularly in the excellent coverage and organization of the material. The book presents an excellent journey on this topic for graduate students, inquisitive database professionals, and database systems researchers from other disciplines (including myself). It is a delight to read. In each chapter, the authors always start from basic concepts, prepare readers with necessary background knowledge (assuming some basic undergraduate-level trainings in computer science), then unravel advanced spatial database concepts, and eventually culminate at the full presentation of latest research frontiers.

Contrary to the previous negative reviewer, who did not give any specific comments, I *highly* recommend this book for those who would like to quickly grasp the core concepts and practices in this emerging field.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book for pratitioners and students alike, April 20, 2003

By 

Shailendra (Silicon Valley, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spatial Databases: A Tour (Paperback)

This book fills the void for a much needed concise book on spatial databases, specially GIS. It provides a good overview of many topics related to GIS, carefully balancing between theory of GIS and its practice. I found the chapter on data mining in spatial databases particularly useful.

3.0 out of 5 stars too many typos, September 17, 2009

By 

K. G. Hoffman "katyh" (Melbourne, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spatial Databases: A Tour (Paperback)

The book is a good effort on a fairly esoteric subject, clearly organized and reasonably (though not always thoroughly) explained. However, there are a lot of typos and the sql code examples were often not quite correct. A second edition, which needn't involve major revision, would be most welcome!