FOSS4G SOTM Oceania 2024

PostGIS 101. A hands-on introduction to working with spatial data in PostgreSQL
11-05, 09:00–12:30 (Australia/Hobart), Social Sciences 109, University of Tasmania

New to PostgreSQL or considering it for managing your data? This workshop is for you, then! We’ll cover all the necessary basics, like creating and managing spatial databases in PostGreSQL, installing and using the PostGIS extension, connecting with QGIS and play with the data using all these software combined.


N.B. A tea break is included at 10.30am for 30 minutes and lunch is provided after this session.
PostgreSQL is the most powerful of the open-source databases, used widely in many organisations and with a wealth of training available for free online. Still, it can be daunting to be approached without previous experience.
This workshop aims to give a basic introduction of working with spatial data in a PostgreSQL database server by showing the attendants how to connect to a local PostgreSQL server, manage users and privileges, and create a spatial database with the PostGIS extension. Then we will move to spatial data and learn how load spatial tables, assign primary and foreign keys, and manage the data both with QGIS and other open-source database management programs.
During the workshop, Elisa will also share all the lessons learned in the last 5 years of working with PostgreSQL and the dos and absolutely-don'ts that the attendants need to be aware of (capital letters, anybody?).
This workshop is hands-on.

Prerequisite skills:
- Attendees should be familiar with QGIS

Preparation required:
- Own laptop with enough memory and space to install and run PostgreSQL
- Preferably: an already installed version of PostgresSQL (15 +) https://www.postgresql.org/ - refer to the workshop intro and resource list for instructions
- QGIS LTR or v3.32+ installed https://www.qgis.org/en/site/

See also: Workshop introduction, pre-workshop instructions and resources (101.8 KB)

Elisa is the current chair of OsGeo Oceania board and has been contributing to the community since 2019, serving first as board member, then as Grant committee chair and now as the board chair.

Elisa was born in Italy and moved to New Zealand in 2008, where she currently resides. She has over 18 years of experience in GIS and database administration and has been working with most of the proprietors and open-source GIS packages. She is a great supporter of GIS open-source software as she strongly believes that everybody should be able to know and use GIS, especially people belonging to minority groups or living in remote areas.

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