How to Create a Polygon in PostgreSQL with PostGIS

Описание: Learn how to easily create a closed polygon in PostgreSQL using PostGIS by following our step-by-step guide.
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Creating a Polygon in PostgreSQL: A Step-by-Step Guide

In the world of databases, spatial data has become increasingly important, especially when working with geographic locations. One of the most common tasks is to create polygons that can represent areas on a map. However, if you're just starting with PostgreSQL and PostGIS, you may encounter some challenges. For instance, you might find yourself facing an error related to geometry when trying to create a polygon from a set of coordinates. In this post, we will explore how to create a polygon in PostgreSQL and address a common error that users experience when doing so.

The Problem: Creating a Polygon

You may have collected a series of geographic points, and now you want to create a polygon using these coordinates in a PostgreSQL database with PostGIS enabled. Having created a table to store your polygon, you're trying to insert the polygon data but encounter an error message that indicates:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This error occurs because the polygon being created is not valid; specifically, it needs to be a closed ring where the first and last coordinates must be the same.

Understanding Closed Rings

A polygon in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) must consist of closed rings. This means that the first coordinate pair, which represents the starting point of the polygon, must also be the last coordinate pair. When this requirement is not met, PostgreSQL with the PostGIS extension throws an error, as it assumes there is a mistake in the input.

Key Points:

A polygon must start and end at the same point.

An error occurs if the polygon's coordinates do not close the shape.

The Solution: Closing the Polygon

To resolve this error and successfully create your polygon, you need to ensure that the last point in your polygon coordinates matches the first point. Here’s how you can amend your SQL code:

Step 1: Create the Table for Storing Polygon Data

First, ensure you have a table ready for storing your polygons. Here’s an example of how to create a basic table:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Insert a Valid Polygon

To make your polygon valid, modify the INSERT statement by repeating the first coordinate at the end. Here's the corrected SQL command:

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In this command:

The first coordinate pair 9.693588094112373 52.39414543838985 is mentioned again at the end of the series.

Step 3: Verify the Polygon Creation

After executing the corrected INSERT statement, ensure that your polygon is created without any errors. You can run a query to retrieve the polygon data and view it using any GIS interface that supports PostGIS.

Conclusion

By ensuring that the starting and ending coordinates of your polygon match, you can easily create valid polygons in PostgreSQL using PostGIS. Understanding the importance of closed rings is crucial for avoiding errors and ensuring your spatial data can be accurately represented and utilized.

With this guide, you should now be able to create shapes effectively for your geographical projects. Happy mapping!