Overview
ISO/IEC 13249-3:2016 - part of the SQL Multimedia and Application Packages series - standardizes spatial user-defined types (UDTs) and associated routines for SQL-based database systems. It defines concepts, notations (including WKT/WKB), a comprehensive set of geometry and topology types (ST_Geometry and derivatives), spatial reference system handling, linear referencing, angle/direction types, and support routines to operate on spatial data inside SQL databases.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 13249-3, SQL spatial, ST_Geometry, spatial data types, spatial routines, spatial reference system, GIS SQL.
Key Topics
- Geometry types and collections: ST_Geometry, ST_Point, ST_LineString, ST_Polygon, ST_MultiPoint/MultiPolygon, ST_Curve variants (CircularString, NURBSCurve, etc.), ST_Surface, ST_Solid, ST_GeomCollection and others.
- Topology and network types: topology elements (ST_NODE, ST_EDGE, ST_FACE) and network link/node definitions for topological and network modelling.
- Spatial reference handling: ST_SpatialRefSys type for coordinate systems and SRID management.
- Linear referencing: types for linear elements, measures and positions (ST_LRFeature, ST_LRCurve, ST_LRMeasure, etc.).
- Geometry methods and routines: dimensionality and coordinate methods, transformation (ST_Transform), validity checks (ST_IsValid, ST_IsSimple), spatial predicates and operations (ST_Buffer, ST_Intersection, ST_Union, ST_Difference), locate/measure functions, envelope and boundary methods.
- Support types and routines: vectors, affine placements, NURBS points, arrays and array support routines, and a Spatial Information Schema for tables with geometry columns.
- Conformance and notations: definitions/conventions drawn from ISO 19107, ISO 19111 and ISO 19148; extended BNF for WKT/WKB.
Applications
ISO/IEC 13249-3 is practical for:
- Database vendors implementing SQL spatial extensions and UDTs.
- GIS and mapping systems storing and querying spatial geometries and topology.
- Location-based services, transportation and utility network management leveraging network and linear referencing types.
- CAD, civil engineering and 3D modelling that require solids, surfaces and advanced curve types.
- Developers writing spatial SQL queries, spatial analysis routines, and spatial-enabled applications.
Benefits include consistent spatial data modeling across platforms, standardized spatial SQL operations, and improved interoperability for GIS workflows.
Who should use it
- RDBMS implementers, spatial database engineers, GIS analysts, application architects, and standards bodies aiming for interoperable spatial SQL support.
Related standards
Adopting ISO/IEC 13249-3 ensures a robust, interoperable foundation for SQL-based spatial data management and advanced spatial analytics.
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