GIS- and Geo-Database Management System options

As the volume of data continues to surge, effective management becomes paramount. Geographic Information System (GIS) databases emerge as powerful solutions, facilitating the storage, management, and querying of geodata. Here, we delve into both free and open-source as well as proprietary GIS databases to aid in your data management endeavors.

Free and Open-Source GIS Databases

ArangoDB Community Edition

• A user-friendly, potent open-source NoSQL database with a unique feature set.
• Website: https://www.arangodb.com

PostGIS / PostgreSQL

• PostGIS provides spatial objects for the PostgreSQL database, enabling storage and retrieval of location information.
• Website: https://postgis.net / https://www.postgresql.org

MariaDB

• A leading database server developed by the original creators of MySQL.
• Website: https://mariadb.org/

MySQL

• Widely used relational database management system, available as open-source or commercial enterprise versions.
• Website: https://www.mysql.com/

OrientDB

• An open-source NoSQL database written in Java, combining features of document-oriented and graph databases.
• Website: https://www.orientdb.com

SQLite / SpatialLite

• SpatialLite is an open-source library extending SQLite with comprehensive spatial SQL functions.
• Website: https://www.sqlite.org / https://www.gaia-gis.it/fossil/libspatialite

Proprietary GIS Databases

Oracle Spatial

• Oracle Spatial and Graph, a separately licensed component of the Oracle database, is utilized for storing and managing geographic information.
• Website: https://www.oracle.com

Whether you opt for the flexibility of open-source GIS databases or the robust features of proprietary solutions like Oracle Spatial, the choice depends on your project's specific needs.