What in-depth spatial database systems tutorials exist?

Question

Is there a good tutorial that explains in depth the internals of a GIS and a spatial database system such as PostGIS with examples and without any background assumption? I'm specifically looking for answers to questions such as:

1. What is a geometry in GIS?
2. How is it represented?
3. Given a lat/long coordinate, what are the operations I need to perform on it to bring it to a state where I can call something like ST_contain PostGIS to check if the polygon contains the lat/long coordinate?

I have some experience with general relational database systems but no background with GIS or the spatial database paradigm.

Answer 1

you could try http://www.bostongis.com/ they have a number of guides for PostGIS

Answer 2

While the PostGIS in Action book isn't a step by step tutorial, it is a very handy guide, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to truly understand PostGIS and get beyond just the basics of PostGIS.

Answer 3

Perhaps the Intro to PostGIS would fit the bill, http://workshops.opengeo.org/postgis-intro/

Answer 4

Try the SpatiaLite Tutorial, it is very well done

Answer 5

Definely you should take a look at the very good documentation from Postgis. Start with the 1.5 version for vector stuff and general GIS questions.

1. http://postgis.refractions.net/documentation/manual-1.5/ch04.html#PostGIS_Geography AND http://postgis.refractions.net/documentation/manual-1.5/reference.html#PostGIS_Types
2. http://postgis.refractions.net/documentation/manual-1.5/ch04.html#OpenGISWKBWKT AND http://postgis.refractions.net/documentation/manual-1.5/ch04.html#EWKB_EWKT
3. http://postgis.refractions.net/documentation/manual-1.5/PostGIS_FAQ.html#id420854