Convert polygon with filled region inside hole into multiple polygons

Question

Suppose you have a polygon with an inner ring representing a hole, and inside that hole is another inner ring (an "island"):

The above shape can be generated using:

SELECT
  ST_MakePolygon(
    ST_ExteriorRing(ST_Buffer(center, 10, 10)),
    ARRAY[
      ST_ExteriorRing(ST_Buffer(center, 6, 6)),
      ST_ExteriorRing(ST_Buffer(center, 3, 3))
    ]
  ) AS geom
FROM ST_MakePoint(0, 0) AS center;

While this can be represented as a single polygon, I have a requirement to convert this into multiple polygons. I am working with a library that supports polygons with holes, but does not support "islands" inside those holes - thus, I need to be able to extract those islands into separate polygons. And in case those islands also have holes that have even more "inner" islands - I need to be able to be able to extract those inner islands as well, such that no polygon in the result set contains "islands". Multiple holes (inner rings) are allowed - just no islands inside any of those holes (no inner ring wholly contained inside another inner ring).

How can I achieve this using PostGIS?

Also just to expand my knowledge... is there a more precise terminology I can use instead of "island"? I'm aware of "inner ring", but an inner ring can represent either a hole, or an "island" inside a hole. Just wondering if there is a more specific term for when an inner ring represents an island vs a hole.

Answer 1

They are two holes. Since they overlaps, the geometry is not valid.

SELECT ST_MakeValid( 
  (SELECT
    ST_MakePolygon(
      ST_ExteriorRing(ST_Buffer(center, 10, 10)),
      ARRAY[
        ST_ExteriorRing(ST_Buffer(center, 6, 6)),
        ST_ExteriorRing(ST_Buffer(center, 3, 3))
      ]
    ) AS geom
  FROM ST_MakePoint(0, 0) AS center
  )
);  

Returns a multipolygon, one part with the exterior and the hole, and other part with the island ("nested hole" can be a more precise term).

Answer 2

I'm not sure if I understood your question correctly, but judging by the picture, my answer is the following,

1. create three buffer zones of different radius from a point, for example, using part of your script

   create table buffers1 as
   SELECT
        ST_Buffer(center, 3, 3) AS geom
   FROM ST_MakePoint(0, 0) AS center;
   

2. cut out a smaller one of your choice

   CREATE TABLE Buffers32 AS
   SELECT ST_Difference(a.geom, b.geom) AS geom
   FROM Buffers3 a, 
        Buffers2 b
   

Leave buffer 1, and the difference is buffer3 - buffer2, see figure

...

2 method Gabriel De Luca-Cyril what you need : -)...

SELECT (ST_Dump(ST_MakeValid( 
  (SELECT
      ST_MakePolygon(
      ST_ExteriorRing(ST_Buffer(center, 10, 10)),
      ARRAY[
        ST_ExteriorRing(ST_Buffer(center, 6, 6)),
        ST_ExteriorRing(ST_Buffer(center, 3, 3))
      ]
    ))))).geom 
      FROM ST_MakePoint(0, 0) AS center;