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Working with Spatial Data

Data Set and Catalog Entry Interactions

SAS/GIS software uses SAS catalog entries to store metadata for the spatial database, that is, information about the spatial data values in the spatial data sets. SAS/GIS spatial databases use the following entry types:


Spatial Entries

A spatial entry is a SAS catalog entry of type GISSPA that identifies the spatial data sets for a given spatial database and defines relationships between the variables in those data sets.

Spatial entries are created and modified using the SPATIAL statement in the GIS procedure.

Note:   You can also create a new spatial entry by selecting the following from the GIS Map window's menu bar:

File [arrow] Save As [arrow] Spatial  [cautionend]

SAS/GIS software supports simple spatial entries and merged spatial entries.


Simple Spatial Entries

Simple spatial entries contain the following elements:


Merged Spatial Entries

Merged spatial entries have the following attributes:

Merged spatial entries can help you to manage your spatial data requirements. For example, you might have two spatial databases that contain the county boundaries of adjoining states. You can build a merged spatial entry that references both states and view a single map that contains both states' counties. Otherwise, you would have to import a new map containing the two states' counties. This new map would double your spatial data storage requirements.

The following additional statements in the GIS procedure update the information in the spatial entry:

COMPOSITE statement

creates or modifies composites that define the relation and function of variables in the spatial data sets. The composite definition is stored in the spatial entry. See COMPOSITE Statement for details about creating or modifying composites.

POLYGONAL INDEX statement

updates the list of available index names stored in the spatial entry. See POLYGONAL INDEX Statement for details about creating or modifying polygonal indexes.

LATTICE statement

updates the lattice hierarchy stored in the spatial entry. See LATTICE Statement for details about defining lattice hierarchies.

You can view a formatted report of the contents of a spatial entry by submitting a SPATIAL CONTENTS statement in the GIS procedure.

See SPATIAL Statement for details about using the GIS procedure to create, modify, or view the contents of spatial entries.


Coverage Entries

A coverage entry is a SAS catalog entry of type GISCOVER that defines the subset, or coverage, of the spatial data that is available to a map. SAS/GIS maps refer to coverages rather than directly to the spatial data.

A coverage entry contains the following elements:

Multiple coverage entries can refer to the same spatial entry to create different subsets of the spatial data for different maps. For example, you could define a series of coverages to subset a county into multiple sales regions according to the block groups that are contained in each of the regions. The spatial data for the entire county would still be in a single spatial database that is represented by the chains, nodes, and details data sets and by the controlling spatial entry.

Coverage entries are created and modified by using the COVERAGE statement in the GIS procedure. You can view a formatted report of the contents of a coverage entry by submitting a COVERAGE CONTENTS statement in the GIS procedure. (The contents report for a coverage entry also includes all the contents information for the root spatial entry as well.)

See COVERAGE Statement for more information about creating, modifying, or viewing the contents of coverage entries.


Layer Entries

A layer entry is a SAS catalog entry of type GISLAYER that defines the set of features that compose a layer in the map. A layer entry contains the following elements:

See LAYER Statement for more information about creating, modifying, or viewing the contents of layer entries.

Map Entries

A map entry is a SAS catalog entry of type GISMAP. Map entries are the controlling entries for SAS/GIS maps because they tie together all the information that is needed to display a map. A map entry contains the following elements:

Map entries are created by using the MAP CREATE statement in the GIS procedure. However, much of the information that is stored in the map entry is specified interactively in the GIS Map window.

You can view a formatted report of the contents of a map entry by submitting a MAP CONTENTS statement in the GIS procedure. (The contents report for a map entry includes all the contents information for the spatial, coverage, and layer entries as well.)

See MAP Statement for details about using the MAP statement. See Chapter 10, "SAS/GIS Windows" in the SAS/GIS Software: Usage and Reference, Version 6, for details about the items that can be specified interactively in the GIS Map window.


Composites

For most operations that involve the spatial database, you refer to composites of the spatial data variables rather than directly to the variables in the spatial data sets. A composite consists of the following elements:

For example, if the chains data set has a variable named FEANAME that contains feature names, you can create a composite for the FEANAME variable that assigns the class attribute NAME to indicate that the association represents feature names. Or, if the chains data set has COUNTYL and COUNTYR variables that contain the codes for the counties on the left and right sides of the chains, you can create a composite named COUNTY. The composite identifies the bilateral relationship between these two variables and assigns the class attribute AREA to indicate that the association defines county areas in the spatial data.

Composites are created and modified using the COMPOSITE statement in the GIS procedure. Composite definitions are stored in the spatial entry. When a spatial action is performed in a map, the variables referenced by composites for the selected map features are displayed in the Spatial Information window.

See COMPOSITE Statement for more information about creating or modifying composites.

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