Chapter 1. Introduction

1. Overview
1.1. Description
1.2. Features
1.3. Changes from previous versions.
1.4. Versions
1.5. Future plans
1.6. Credits
1.7. Get Involved
2. License
2.1. JASPA Software
2.2. JASPA Documentation
3. Libraries and Tools used to create JASPA
3.1. Documentation

1. Overview

1.1. Description

JASPA (JAva SPAtial) is a spatial extension for relational database systems. JASPA implements the OpenGIS Simple Features for SQL and the SQL/MM standard. JASPA potentially brings around 200 spatial functions to any relational database system that supports a full set of Java stored procedures.

In this 0.1 version JASPA is supported by PostgreSQL and H2 databases, and we are already working with HSQLDB. JASPA has a similar functionality as PostGIS 1.4, supporting spatial operators and predicates, arrays of geometries, spatial aggregates, etc.

JASPA is written in Java and is easy to extend using Java stored procedures. JASPA is licensed under the GNU GPL.

1.2. Features

  • Fully written in Java

  • Currently uses PostgreSQL and H2 as the backend RDBMS

  • Possibility of migration to other Java databases

  • Implements SFS and SQL-MM standards

  • More than 200 spatial functions available

  • PostGIS compatible

  • Easy-to-extend capabilities using store procedures in Java

  • Use of JTS and GeoTools libraries

  • UMN MapSever as graphical frontend

  • JASPA for PostgreSQL provides spatial indexing based on PostgreSQL Gist

  • Spatial reference systems

  • Support for standard WKT and WKB formats and PostGIS EWKB and EWKT formats

  • Support for SHP, KML and GML as input formats

  • Genuine JASPA topological functions Nodelize, Cleanpolygon, Delaunay triangles, etc.

1.3. Changes from previous versions.

In Section 1, “Jaspa 0.2.0” it can be found a list of changes and new features.

1.4. Versions

There are different Jaspa distributions to install it depending on the back-end database and the O.S. Jaspa 0.2 can be installed in Linux and Windows as 32-bit or 64-bit application.

32-bit applications can run on a 32-bit or 64-bit version of the O.S.

64-bit applications can only run on a 64-bit version of the O.S.

[Note]

Jaspa installs its own JRE, independently of which is using the OS

1.4.1. PostgreSQL

In order to install Jaspa for PostgreSQL, the database PostgreSQL must be previously installed. Jaspa runs with PostgreSQL 8.3, 8.4 or 9.0.

Windows
  1. PostgreSQL 8.4

    Postgres 32 bits 8.4 Win-32

  2. PostgreSQL 9.0

    Postgres 32 bits 9.0 Win-32

    Postgres 64 bits 9.0 Win-64

Linux
  1. PostgreSQL 8.4

    Postgres 32 bits 8.4 x86-32

    Postgres 64 bits 8.4 x86-64

  2. PostgreSQL 9.0

    Postgres 32 bits 9.0 x86-32

    Postgres 64 bits 9.0 x86-64

1.4.2. H2

The only difference between 32 and 64 bit H2 distributions is the JRE used by Jaspa.

Windows

H2 win-32

H2 win-64

Linux

H2 x86-32

H2 x86-64

1.5. Future plans

Connectors for map servers and desktop GIS applications (specially for H2 database)

Geographical functions based on a spheroid

Improve the Cluster/Tolerance system

Jaspa for HSQLDB or Oracle

Improve 3D/4D methods

1.6. Credits

The authors of this project are:

  • Jose C. Martinez-Llario. Developer and project director. (1)

  • Marta Gonzalez-Alcaide. Tester and document builder. (1)

(1) Deparment of Cartographic Engineering, Geodesy and Photogrammetry of the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (Spain).

Any contributor is very welcomed to join the JASPA project.

1.7. Get Involved

Jaspa is an open source software project. Contributions from users and software developers are very welcomed. Please feel free to let us know your suggestions, comments or questions through the distribution list.

2. License

2.1. JASPA Software

JASPA is an open source software project. JASPA is released under GNU General Public License. http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html

2.2. JASPA Documentation

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License.

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3. Libraries and Tools used to create JASPA

This project has been possible thanks to other open source projects. Besides to take advantage of these projects we have used their mailing lists and they helped us a lot. The JASPA team is very grateful to them:

PostGIS

The mirror which JASPA looks at. http://postgis.refractions.net/

JTS (Java Topology Suite)

JTS Topology Suite is an API of 2D spatial predicates and functions. This library is widely used in JASPA and many open source initiatives bringing the possibility to use spatial analysis to the java open source world.http://www.vividsolutions.com/jts/jtshome.htm

GeoTools

GeoTools is an open source Java library that provides tools for geospatial data. It is used used for projections, KML support and Shape to JASPA convertershttp://geotools.org/

PostgreSQL and PL/Java

PostgreSQL database http://www.postgresql.org/

PL/Java is a free add-on module that brings Java Stored Procedures to the PostgreSQL backend. http://wiki.tada.se/index.php/PL/Java

H2 and H2Spatial

A Java database and its spatial extension used at the beginning of JASPA.

H2 database http://www.h2database.com/html/main.html

HSQLDB

A Java database which probably will be supported by JASPA in the next release. http://hsqldb.org/

gvSIG

A desktop GIS which we hope it can connect to JASPA soon. http://www.gvsig.org

3.1. Documentation

DocBook

DocBook (xsltproc) is required for building the documentation. http://www.docbook.org/

Apache FOP

Formatting Object Processor (FOP) is a Java based print formatter based on the XSL-FO standard. http://xmlgraphics.apache.org/fop/index.html

XML Editor

A visual XML editor. http://www.xmlmind.com/xmleditor/