Spatial Queries: Oracle Corporation, 2002. All Rights Reserved

5
Spatial Queries
Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®
Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should
be able to do the following:
• Describe a spatial query and a spatial join
• Explain the query model
• Describe and compare spatial operators
and functions
• Use the spatial operators and functions
to perform spatial queries and joins
• Understand the topological relationships
used by the spatial operators

5 -2
Optimized Query Model
Exact
Secondary Result
Primary Set
Filter
Spatial Layer Filter Reduced
Data Data Set Spatial Exact
Spatial Index Result
Functions
Set
Table where Index retrieves Procedures

coordinates are area of interest that determine
stored (window) exact relationship

5 -3
Primary Filter Example - FIXED
sdo_level = 2
• Compares fixed sized tiles that approximate the

area of interest with fixed sized tiles that
approximate each geometry
• Result is not exact because comparing
approximations
Primary Filter Example
(R-tree Index)
• Compares MBR that approximates the area of

interest with the MBR that approximates each
geometry
• Result is not exact because comparing
approximations
Spatial Operators vs Functions
• Spatial operators:
– Take advantage of spatial indexes
– Require that spatial index exists on the first
geometry specified in the operator
– Only in the WHERE clause
• Spatial Functions:
– Do not take advantage of spatial indexes
– Could be used on small tables that are not
spatially indexed
– Can be used in the SELECT list or WHERE
clause

5 -6
Spatial Operators vs Functions
Operators Functions
• SDO_FILTER • SDO_GEOM.RELATE
– Performs a primary filter only – To determine the relationship
between two geometries
• SDO_RELATE
– Performs a primary and – To perform a spatial query
secondary filter without using a spatial index (i.e.
on a small table)
• SDO_WITHIN_DISTANCE • SDO_GEOM.WITHIN_DISTANCE
– Generates a buffer around a
geometry and performs a – Generates a buffer around a
primary and optionally a geometry and performs a
secondary filter secondary filter
• SDO_NN
– Returns nearest neighbors

5 -7
The SDO_FILTER operator
boolean := MDSYS.SDO_FILTER
( <geometry-1>,
<geometry-2>,
‘QUERYTYPE=<querytype>
[other optional parameters]’
)
• Performs an approximate query (primary filter

only)
• Returns TRUE or FALSE

5 -8
Required arguments
• GEOMETRY-1
– Must be a column in a table
– Must be of type SDO_GEOMETRY
– Must be indexed
• GEOMETRY-2
– Variable or column in a table
– If querytype=JOIN, must be a column in a table and indexed
(very rare) with same index type (Quadtree/Rtree) and
SDO_LEVEL (if Quadtree)
• QUERYTYPE
– Valid values are WINDOW or JOIN (very rare)

5 -9
Optional arguments
• IDXTAB1
– Index table to associate with first geometry
in operator.
– By default, the primary index table is used.
• IDXTAB2
– Index table to associate with the second
geometry in operator
– Only supported if QUERYTYPE=JOIN

5 -10
Optional arguments (continued)
• LAYER_GTYPE
– Set to POINT if querying POINT only
columns (for optimal performance,
quadtree indexes only)
– Otherwise, NOTPOINT (default)

5 -11
SDO_FILTER Example
• Find all cities in a selected rectangular area
• Result is approximate
select c.city, c.pop90
from cities c
where mdsys.sdo_filter (
c.location,
mdsys.sdo_geometry (2003, null, null,
mdsys.sdo_elem_info_array (1,1003,3),
mdsys.sdo_ordinate_array (-109,37,-102,40)),
'querytype=WINDOW layer_gtype=POINT') = 'TRUE';
Hint #1: All Spatial operators return TRUE or FALSE. When writing
spatial queries always test with = 'TRUE', never <> 'FALSE' or
= 'true'

5 -12
Spatial (topological) relationships
B
A A A
B
B
Contains Covers
Touch
Inside Covered by
A A A red B green
B
B
Overlap Overlap
Boundaries Intersect Boundaries Disjoint Equal
A
Disjoint

5 -13
(continued)
A A A
B
Contains B B
Inside
Touch
Covers
Covered by
A
B
A
B
Overlap Overlap
Boundaries Intersect Boundaries Disjoint
A
Disjoint
On B

5 -14
(cont.)
• ANYINTERACT
– Returns TRUE if not disjoint
– Optimal mask
– In 8.1.6 was only mask to take advantage of
center tile optimization

5 -15
The SDO_RELATE operator
MDSYS.SDO_RELATE
( <geometry-1>,
<geometry-2>,
‘MASK=<mask>
QUERYTYPE=<querytype>
) = ‘TRUE’
• Performs a primary and secondary filter


5 -16
Required arguments
• GEOMETRY-1
– Must be indexed
• GEOMETRY-2
– If querytype=JOIN, must be a column in a table
and indexed (very rare) with same index type
(Quadtree/Rtree) and SDO_LEVEL (if Quadtree)

5 -17
Required arguments (cont.)
• MASK
– Identify spatial relationship to test
– Must be UPPER CASE in 8.1.5, case doesn’t
matter in 8.1.6+
– OR’ed masks do not work in 8.1.5, fixed in
8.1.6+ (i.e. INSIDE+COVEREDBY)
• QUERYTYPE
– Valid values are WINDOW or JOIN (very rare)

5 -18
Optional arguments
• IDXTAB1
– Index table to associate with first geometry in
operator.
• IDXTAB2
– Index table to associate with the second
geometry in operator
– Only supported if QUERYTYPE=JOIN

5 -19
• LAYER_GTYPE
– Set to POINT if querying POINT only columns
(for optimal performance)
– Currently applicable only to Quadtree indexes

5 -20
SDO_RELATE - A window query
• Find all counties in the state of New Hampshire
select c.county, c.state_abrv

from counties c, states s
where s.state = 'New Hampshire'
and mdsys.sdo_relate (c.geom, s.geom,
'mask=INSIDE+COVEREDBY querytype=WINDOW') = 'TRUE';

5 -21
• Find all counties in the state of New Hampshire
'mask=INSIDE querytype=WINDOW') = 'TRUE'
union all
'mask=COVEREDBY querytype=WINDOW') = 'TRUE';
Hint #2: This query uses interior tile optimizations, and may be more optimal
in Oracle Spatial 8.1.7.

5 -22
SDO_RELATE - Another window query
• Find all counties around county Passaic
select c1.county, c1.state_abrv

from counties c1,
counties c2
where c2.state = 'New Jersey'
and c2.county = 'Passaic'
and mdsys.sdo_relate (c1.geom, c2.geom,
'mask=TOUCH querytype=WINDOW') = 'TRUE';

5 -23
• Find all cities in a selected rectangular area
select c.city, c.pop90
from cities c
where mdsys.sdo_relate (
c.location,
mdsys.sdo_geometry (2003, null, null,
mdsys.sdo_ordinate_array (-109,37,-102,40)),
'mask=ANYINTERACT querytype=WINDOW
layer_gtype=POINT')='TRUE';
Note: for point in polygon queries use the ANYINTERACT mask if

you don’t mind returning points which fall on the boundary;
ANYINTERACT is a very fast relate operation.

5 -24
SDO_RELATE and PL/SQL
• Find total population in a selected rectangular area

set serveroutput on;
declare
rectangle mdsys.sdo_geometry;
total_population number;
begin
rectangle := mdsys.sdo_geometry (2003, null, null,
mdsys.sdo_ordinate_array (-109, 37, -102, 40));
select sum(c.totpop) into total_population
from counties c
where mdsys.sdo_relate (c.geom, rectangle,
'mask=ANYINTERACT querytype=WINDOW') = 'TRUE';
dbms_output.put_line('Population = '||total_population||'.');
end;

5 -25
SDO_RELATE - window query
• Find all interstates that interact with a county
select i.highway
from interstates i, counties c
where c.state = 'New Jersey' and c.county = 'Passaic'
and mdsys.sdo_relate (i.geom, c.geom,
• Find all interstates that interact with selected counties

select /*+ ordered */ i.highway
from counties c, interstates i
where c.state = 'Arizona' and c.poppsqmi < 10
and mdsys.sdo_relate (i.geom, c.geom,
Hint #3: When the query window comes from a table use the ordered optimizer
hint and specify the query window (geometry-2) first in the from clause.

5 -26
SDO_RELATE - join query
• Select all the city, county pairs

select city, county
from counties c, cities i
where mdsys.sdo_relate (i.location, c.geom,
'mask=ANYINTERACT
querytype=JOIN
LAYER_GTYPE=POINT') = 'TRUE';
**NOTE** In 8.1.6 and higher analyzing and computing statistics on
both the index tables help the execution plan of a join query.
Do not analyze the index tables in 8.1.5.

5 -27
The SDO_WITHIN_DISTANCE operator
boolean := MDSYS.SDO_WITHIN_DISTANCE
( <geometry-1>,
<geometry-2>,
‘DISTANCE=<n>,
QUERYTYPE=<querytype>
)
• Performs an exact or approximate query

• Euclidean distance only

5 -28
Arguments
• GEOMETRY-1
– Must be indexed
• GEOMETRY-2
– Will be buffered by distance
• DISTANCE (required)
– The distance (expressed in the units used for
the coordinate system)

5 -29
• LAYER_GTYPE (optional)
– Set to POINT if querying POINT only
columns (for optimal performance,
quadtree indexes only)
• QUERYTYPE (optional)
– If FILTER, primary filter query only
(approximate results)
**NOTE** Does not work in 8.1.5, fixed
in 8.1.6

5 -30
SDO_WITHIN_DISTANCE Examples
• Find all cities within a distance from an interstate

select /*+ ordered */ c.city
from interstates i, cities c
where i.highway = 'I 170'
and mdsys.sdo_within_distance (
c.location, i.geom,
'distance=0.5 layer_gtype=POINT') = 'TRUE';
• Find intersates within a distance from a city

select /*+ ordered */ i.highway
from cities c, interstates i
where c.city = 'Tampa'
and mdsys.sdo_within_distance (
i.geom, c.location,'distance=0.5') = 'TRUE';

5 -31
LOCATOR_WITHIN_DISTANCE
Example
• Find all cities within 50 miles of Chicago
select c1.city
from cities c1, cities c2
where c2.city = 'Chicago'
and mdsys.locator_within_distance (
c1.location, c2.location,
‘distance=50 units=MILE') = 'TRUE';
• LOCATOR_WITHIN_DISTANCE is part of intermedia (which is free)

• Can execute radius queries against point only layers (don’t need to specify
LAYER_GTYPE = POINT, automatically implied).
• Has a UNITS parameter (MILE, FT, METER), very accurate in 8.1.6+
• When using units, must be in long/lat (WGS 84, NAD 83)

5 -32
The SDO_NN (Nearest Neighbor)
operator
boolean := MDSYS.SDO_NN
( <geometry-1>,
<geometry-2>,
‘[optional parameter]’
)
• Returns the nearest neighbors to a geometry

• Can choose the number of nearest neighbors
• Results not returned in order of distance

5 -33
Arguments
• GEOMETRY-1
– Must be indexed
• GEOMETRY-2
• SDO_NUM_RES (optional)
– The number of nearest neighbors to return
– Default is 1

5 -34
SDO_NN Example
• Find the five cities nearest to interstate I 175
select /*+ ordered */

c.city
and mdsys.sdo_nn (
c.location, i.geom,
'sdo_num_res=5') = 'TRUE';

5 -35
The SDO_GEOM.RELATE Function
boolean := MDSYS.SDO_GEOM.RELATE
( <geometry-1>, <diminfo-1>,
‘<mask>’,
<geometry-2>, <diminfo-2> )
or
boolean := MDSYS.SDO_GEOM.RELATE
( <geometry-1>,‘<mask>’,<geometry-2>,<tolerance> )
• Performs an exact query (secondary filter)

• Returns TRUE or FALSE for an ANYINTERACT mask
• Returns the matching relationship if any other mask
or FALSE
• Can be used in the select list

5 -36
SDO_GEOM.RELATE Parameters
• GEOMETRY1
• DIMINFO1
– From user_sdo_geom_metadata table
• MASK
– Mask for operator
• GEOMETRY2
• DIMINFO2
• TOLERANCE
– The tolerance value to be used

5 -37
SDO_GEOM.RELATE Function
• Determine relationship of counties and states
select c.county, mdsys.sdo_geom.relate
(s.geom,
'determine',
c.geom, 0.00000005)
from states s, counties c
where s.state = 'New Jersey'
and s.state = c.state;
COUNTY RELATIONSHIP
------------------------------- --------------
Atlantic COVERS
Cape May COVERS
Cumberland COVERS
Essex CONTAINS

5 -38
• Determine relationship of states and counties
(reverse relationship of previous slide)
select c.county, mdsys.sdo_geom.relate
(c.geom,
'determine',
s.geom, 0.00000005)
and s.state = c.state;
COUNTY RELATIONSHIP
------------------------------- --------------
Atlantic COVEREDBY
Cape May COVEREDBY
Cumberland COVEREDBY
Essex INSIDE

5 -39
• Find all counties around New Jersey

select c.county, c.state
and mdsys.sdo_geom.relate
(s.geom,
'touch',
c.geom, 0.00000005) = 'TOUCH';
• The function does not take advantage of

spatial indexes !

5 -40
The SDO_GEOM.WITHIN_DISTANCE Function
boolean := MDSYS.SDO_GEOM.WITHIN_DISTANCE
(<geometry-1>, <diminfo-1>,
<distance>,
<geometry-2>, <diminfo-2> )
or
boolean := MDSYS.SDO_GEOM.WITHIN_DISTANCE
(<geometry-1>, <distance>, <geometry-2>,
<tolerance> )
• Performs an exact query

• Euclidean distance only
• Does NOT use the spatial indices

5 -41
SDO_GEOM.WITHIN_DISTANCE
Parameters
• GEOMETRY1
• DIMINFO1
• DISTANCE
– The distance (expressed in the units used for the
coordinate system)
• GEOMETRY2
• DIMINFO2
• TOLERANCE
– The tolerance value to be used

5 -42
Function
• Find all cities within a distance from an interstate
select c.city
from cities c, interstates i
and mdsys.sdo_geom.within_distance (
c.location,
0.5,
i.geom, 0.00000005 ) = 'TRUE';
• The function does not take advantage of spatial

indices !

5 -43
Function
• Find all interstates within a distance from a city
select i.highway
where c.city = 'Tampa'
and mdsys.sdo_geom.within_distance (
i.geom,
(select diminfo
from user_sdo_geom_metadata
where table_name = 'INTERSTATES'
and column_name = 'GEOM'),
0.5,
c.location,
(select diminfo
from user_sdo_geom_metadata
where table_name = 'CITIES'
and column_name = 'LOCATION') ) = 'TRUE';

5 -44
Syntax for flattening the varrays
SELECT *
FROM TABLE (SELECT a.geom.sdo_ordinates
FROM states a
WHERE a.state = 'California');
SELECT *
FROM TABLE (SELECT a.geom.sdo_elem_info
FROM states a
WHERE a.state = 'California');
• Can only flatten one varray at a time


5 -45
Summary
In this lesson, your should have learned how to:
• Describe a spatial query and a spatial join
• Explain the query model
• Describe and compare spatial operators and
functions
• Use the spatial operators and functions to
perform spatial queries
• Understand the topological relationships used by
the spatial operators

5 -46
Practice 7-1 Overview
This practice covers the following topics:

• Perform various queries on the layers
previously loaded and indexed
– STATES
– COUNTIES
– INTERSTATES
– CITIES

5 -47

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5

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Table where Index retrieves Procedures

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

• Compares fixed sized tiles that approximate the

• Compares MBR that approximates the area of

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

• Performs an approximate query (primary filter

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

• Performs a primary and secondary filter

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

• Find all counties in the state of New Hampshire

select c.county, c.state_abrv

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

• Find all counties around county Passaic

select c1.county, c1.state_abrv

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Note: for point in polygon queries use the ANYINTERACT mask if

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

• Find total population in a selected rectangular area

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

• Find all interstates that interact with selected counties

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

• Select all the city, county pairs

Copyright  Intergraph Hong Kong Limited, ®

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

• Performs an exact or approximate query

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

• Find all cities within a distance from an interstate

• Find intersates within a distance from a city

Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

select /+ ordered /