Spatial Analysis

This guide will teach you how to import two shape (zipped) files and how to perform spatial analysis.

Step 1 - Download Files

Nuclear Reactors

World Boarders

Step 2 - Click on the Maps tab on the global navigation and select Create New Map

Name your new map and save.

Step 3 - Import Data and Add to Map

When you try to load a map without any layers attached you get the below window

Select the create / import button, this is accessible on the map using the button on the layers tree view.

Select Import

Drag and drop to the DnD area the earlier downloaded zip files. It's important to highlight that Azimap supports zipped and non zipped files.

Select Save to import the layer, this may take a few seconds. The larger the dataset, the move time will be required to import the data, however the application will email the system administrator once the the data has been imported successfully.

After successful import the map will load with the default styling of red squares and grey polygons.

Step 4 - Spatial Analysis

Select the spatial analysis tool, as seen below -

Upon selecting the spatial analysis tool, the spatial analysis wizard will slide out

This is a powerful wizard with multiple functions

Select Layer: Choose the layer from which to get results
Spatial function: There are six spatial functions to choose from -
- Intersects this will return a result if two geometries "spatially intersects in 2D"
- Buffer this will return results within a given distance from the input geometry
- Overlaps this will return result if the geometries share space, are of the same dimension but are not completely contained by each other
- Within this will return results of the geometry A is completely inside geometry B
- Contains this will return results if and only if no points of B lie in the exterior of A, and at least one point of the interior of B lies in the interior of A
- Touches this will return a result if the geometries have at least one point in common, but their interiors do not intersects

Azimap uses Postgis for its spatial analysis. Other functions can be utilised if entered directly into the query window

Step 8: Advanced

Update radius: distance for buffer (enabled on buffer analysis) option m, km and miles
Geometry source
Select a feature
Select multiple features

Compare layers

Select area type: enabled on multiple feature select
Lasso select
Circle select
Box select

Secondary layer: enabled on compare layer select. When comparing layers, choose the secondary layer to compare

Step 5 - Intersects

Lets use the spatial search tool to select all of the nuclear power stations in France

Click on France to select the country polygon (it should highlight)
Select output layer (NuclearReactors2011) in select layer drop down
Select the intersects tools in the spatial function options
Select the select feature tool
Select generate script - this will generate the required SQL to output all the nuclear power stations that intersects with the France polygon
Select 'Execute Filter' to see your results

You can view the results in tabular format by selecting 'View Data'

View data shows the filtered 46 Power Stations in France

The 'Save results as new layer' allows you to add the layer to the map and into your data catalogue for future use.

When added to the map if should look like the below with the new 'FrancePower' layer added

Step 6 - Overlaps, Within, Contains, Touches

To perform any of the above spatial analysis just follow the process in Step 5 but choose you applicable option from the Spatial Function section.

Step 7: Buffer Select

Creating selection buffers is slightly different - you must select the radius of your buffer after choosing the 'buffer select' function.

Process the query as per step 5 only this time set a buffer radius (will be enabled if 'buffer select' is chosen)

In this query I have selected a random power station in France and set a 1000km buffer zone.

This results in only the resulting answers being shown on the map.

Step 8 - Advanced Spatial Features

The wizard creates query SQL for you however if you know SQL syntax you can write your own advanced select queries by either editing the output of the wizard or choosing the advanced radio button.

Note: Strings should be surrounded by single quotes, double quotes are used by us to signify table and column names.

The SQL query box can now be typed into - to search for Reactors of type 'Pressurised Water'.

or for Reactors that are gas cooled

We can combine wizard generated queries with our own amendments.

Generate the Intersects Query from Set 5

The results in the below filtered dataset.

Let amend the query by adding year of construction between 1970 and 1979 inclusive. For this example we will utilise the SQL between command which is inclusive.