*
Here in Denver we have a great meetup called GeoSpatial Amateurs that devoted (and aspiring) users and contributors of open source spatial tools frequently attend. For those that*aren’t familiar with the group don’t be fooled by the name. *The use of “Amateurs” was strategic to scare away those hungry vendors that might want to encroach on the grass-roots open source feel of the meetup. *All this aside the meetup is often run by the ever charismatic Brian Timmony (@briantimoney) who with his co-organizers (Peter Batty*@pmbatty*and Nate Irwin*@nateirwin) organized a ‘Post-GIS’ day… The day after GIS day. *While being a very clever play on names and timing it also proved to be a great way to celebrate the amazing PostGIS database, FOSS4G, and geography in general. *The structure was your common round of lightning talks running for about 1.5 hours. *In all I think there was about 15 talks all of which I learned something from.
*
Peter Batty (@pmbatty) – Talked about the use of PostGIS for large data systems and specifically the amazing performance of loading data with the PostgreSQL copy command. *He also got into comparing PostgrSQL/PostGIS with Oracle which was pretty interesting and entertaining.
What I learned:
PostgreSQL is just better.
*
Matt Krusemark*(@kspatial) – Talked about his history with PostGIS, how to bring it into an organization, and how he teaches core database techniques at CU Denver with PostGIS.
What I learned:
When you teach people the core concepts of a powerful*system like PostgreSQL/PostGIS it can literally transform their career and therefore lives. *Open source is empowering.
*
Ted Quinby – Showed the crowed very useful techniques for analyzing PostgreSQL queries and then using special operators to ensure that the query utilizes the correct indexes.
What I learned:
This newish operator is amazing for querying spatial indexes (fast) in nearest neighbor functions to return an ordered list of data. Here is a blog post on the topic if you want to know more.
*
Jim McAndrews (@jimmyrocks) – Demonstrated materialized views in PostgreSQL and why they are so damn awesome for making database views of spatial data fast.**
What I learned:
I now better understand what a materialized view actually is and how to best utilize it.
*
Matt Baker (@MapBaker) – Demonstrated how he used PostGIS and Qgis to process data for maps that help local school districts analyse student demographics. *The resulting maps where really interesting and got a number of people around me talking about the demographic patterns demonstrated.
What I learned:
I don’t know how I have gone so long not knowing about case statements in PostgreSQL but this was new to me. *Also, Denver appears to be a very segregated city in terms of student race/ethnicity.
*
Andy Mention (@amention) – Talked about how he constructs PostGIS queries with Ruby and Active Directory. In the end he showed how his query can query 3.2 million*records in 15 milliseconds. *Pretty damn fast.
What I learned:
Apparently you can get fast queries through tools that abstract SQL. Ruby just peaked my interest a little more.
*
Mamata Akella (@mamataakella) – Showed us some of the amazing cartography she is doing in her new role with CartoDB. She also demonstrated how we can use projections other than Web Merkator in CartoDB.
What I learned:
CartoDB is getting better and better at supporting beautiful custom cartography AND Mamata makes some of the most beautiful maps on the web.
*
Steve Coast (@SteveC) – That’s right… The founder of Open Street Map made an appearance! He promoted his new book about the history of Open Street Map.
What I learned:
His book is more about the history of the unique beginnings of Open Street Map than what OSM is or how to use it. *This should be interesting and can be purchased in digital or paper form.
*
Brian Timmony (@briantimoney) – Talked about his early history with PostGIS and how he used it to provide useful solutions to customers needing solutions that work with their environment.
What I learned:
Brian has seen it all and is probably one of the best FOSS4G spokesman.
*
Me (@jmapping) –*Talked a little about why PostGIS stands out as an amazing spatial database.
What I learned:
Sometimes giving a presentation with physical props instead of digital media is much more fun and engaging. *Also, people get really excited by some of the functionality that PostGIS offers.
*
I’m missing at least half the speakers because I didn’t take notes. *If anyone wants to send me a message of who/what I am forgetting please do and I will update this page.*
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Here in Denver we have a great meetup called GeoSpatial Amateurs that devoted (and aspiring) users and contributors of open source spatial tools frequently attend. For those that*aren’t familiar with the group don’t be fooled by the name. *The use of “Amateurs” was strategic to scare away those hungry vendors that might want to encroach on the grass-roots open source feel of the meetup. *All this aside the meetup is often run by the ever charismatic Brian Timmony (@briantimoney) who with his co-organizers (Peter Batty*@pmbatty*and Nate Irwin*@nateirwin) organized a ‘Post-GIS’ day… The day after GIS day. *While being a very clever play on names and timing it also proved to be a great way to celebrate the amazing PostGIS database, FOSS4G, and geography in general. *The structure was your common round of lightning talks running for about 1.5 hours. *In all I think there was about 15 talks all of which I learned something from.
*
Peter Batty (@pmbatty) – Talked about the use of PostGIS for large data systems and specifically the amazing performance of loading data with the PostgreSQL copy command. *He also got into comparing PostgrSQL/PostGIS with Oracle which was pretty interesting and entertaining.
What I learned:
PostgreSQL is just better.
*
Matt Krusemark*(@kspatial) – Talked about his history with PostGIS, how to bring it into an organization, and how he teaches core database techniques at CU Denver with PostGIS.
What I learned:
When you teach people the core concepts of a powerful*system like PostgreSQL/PostGIS it can literally transform their career and therefore lives. *Open source is empowering.
*
Ted Quinby – Showed the crowed very useful techniques for analyzing PostgreSQL queries and then using special operators to ensure that the query utilizes the correct indexes.
What I learned:
This newish operator is amazing for querying spatial indexes (fast) in nearest neighbor functions to return an ordered list of data. Here is a blog post on the topic if you want to know more.
*
Jim McAndrews (@jimmyrocks) – Demonstrated materialized views in PostgreSQL and why they are so damn awesome for making database views of spatial data fast.**
What I learned:
I now better understand what a materialized view actually is and how to best utilize it.
*
Matt Baker (@MapBaker) – Demonstrated how he used PostGIS and Qgis to process data for maps that help local school districts analyse student demographics. *The resulting maps where really interesting and got a number of people around me talking about the demographic patterns demonstrated.
What I learned:
I don’t know how I have gone so long not knowing about case statements in PostgreSQL but this was new to me. *Also, Denver appears to be a very segregated city in terms of student race/ethnicity.
*
Andy Mention (@amention) – Talked about how he constructs PostGIS queries with Ruby and Active Directory. In the end he showed how his query can query 3.2 million*records in 15 milliseconds. *Pretty damn fast.
What I learned:
Apparently you can get fast queries through tools that abstract SQL. Ruby just peaked my interest a little more.
*
Mamata Akella (@mamataakella) – Showed us some of the amazing cartography she is doing in her new role with CartoDB. She also demonstrated how we can use projections other than Web Merkator in CartoDB.
What I learned:
CartoDB is getting better and better at supporting beautiful custom cartography AND Mamata makes some of the most beautiful maps on the web.
*
Steve Coast (@SteveC) – That’s right… The founder of Open Street Map made an appearance! He promoted his new book about the history of Open Street Map.
What I learned:
His book is more about the history of the unique beginnings of Open Street Map than what OSM is or how to use it. *This should be interesting and can be purchased in digital or paper form.
*
Brian Timmony (@briantimoney) – Talked about his early history with PostGIS and how he used it to provide useful solutions to customers needing solutions that work with their environment.
What I learned:
Brian has seen it all and is probably one of the best FOSS4G spokesman.
*
Me (@jmapping) –*Talked a little about why PostGIS stands out as an amazing spatial database.
What I learned:
Sometimes giving a presentation with physical props instead of digital media is much more fun and engaging. *Also, people get really excited by some of the functionality that PostGIS offers.
*
I’m missing at least half the speakers because I didn’t take notes. *If anyone wants to send me a message of who/what I am forgetting please do and I will update this page.*
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