In this chapter we’ll look at how you can load real-world data into PostGIS and export it. We’ll point you to specific data sources for the examples in this chapter, but if you’re interested in other sources, see the list we’ve compiled in appendix A. We encourage you to explore on your own and report back on any discoveries of interesting data sources at our Manning author forum: www.manning.com/obe3.
Note
Geographic data that covers a swath of areas on our spheroidal earth needs special attention. You need to understand, at least on a rudimentary level, ellipsoids, datums, and projections in order to understand the pros and cons of different spatial reference systems so that you can determine which ones suit your use. The fundamentals we provided in the previous chapter should guide you in the right direction.