One of the most challenging aspects of geospatial analysis is the data. Geospatial data already includes dozens of file formats and database structures and continues to evolve and grow to include new types of data and standards. Additionally, almost any file format can technically contain geospatial information and is done by simply adding a location.
In this chapter, we will look at the following topics:
- Getting an overview of common data formats
- Examining some common traits of geospatial data
- Understanding spatial indexing
- Knowing the most widely used vector data types
- Understanding raster data types
We'll also gain some insight into newer, more complex types, including point cloud data, web services, and geospatial databases.
