Here's an interesting comparison on the different spatially enabled databases currently on the market. I unfortunately missed details on what e.g. ArcGIS server adds to Oracle Spatial. But maybe that would also require discussing what GeoServer or uDig add to PostGIS. Anyway, a nice product overview to start off with.

"Geo-databases are the ‘spider in the web’ in these developments. (Open source) geo-databases like PostgreSQL and MySQL open up perspectives in such developments, also in less developed countries. Today the functionalities for information management are so comprehensive that their representation within a Product Survey template such as that used over recent years in GIM International is complex. For example, subjects like ‘spatial indexing’, ‘optimising approaches’, ‘spatial joining algorithms’ and ‘topology management’ may relate to very sophisticated approaches not easily condensed and described in a survey matrix box. In my first Product Survey on RDBMS in 2002 I observed that spatial-data management was traditionally supported within GIS environments. Integration with other datasets has to be organised within such environments with the aid of complementary architectures. As more and more support for spatial-data management becomes available in RDBMS, direct integration with other datasets may be organised in an increasingly flexible way. This allows for fast data access, easy product development, avoidance of duplication of spatial data etc. Five years on, a set of mature geo-databases is available on the market, and a product like PostgreSQL has, of course, a much longer history. Thanks to OGC, developments have been rapid.

This Product Survey is based on information provided by geo-database suppliers; it is not a benchmark and it is not related to any assessment. A new series of features on geo-databases in GIM International would be a better approach to further introducing the functionality, applications, references and integration in geo-spatial data infrastructures. All Geo-database suppliers are invited to contribute their ideas."

Here’s a very interesting report!!

Ran into this on the BBC website today, really worth a read!


The European Commission has added its voice to the debate about the use of open source software.

A report funded by the Commission concludes that the software could offer considerable savings to organisations with little effect on their business.

The report found that in "almost all" cases long-term costs could be reduced by switching from proprietary software produced by firms such as Microsoft.

However, it warned that a move to open source could increase short term costs.



BBC NEWS | Technology | Open source gets European boost

Some interesting reviews here on what’s waiting us in 2007
Not a very good start of the year I would say, including for those
running other operating systems tan Windows. Wonder if the EU and
others will eventually force Microsoft to remove or redefine the
Content Protection from the European Vista version as one of their required modifications

The Vista Content Protection specification could very well constitute the longest suicide note in history. http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.txt

Hi-tech criminals are looking forward to the consumer release of Windows Vista, say security experts. BBC NEWS | Technology | Vista opens new dawn for security