Using spatial SQL

Don’t be intimidated by the term spatialSQL. It is one of the most powerful tools in GIS, is easy to use, and is way more flexible than any wizard you can develop. But, it will require you to write a couple of lines of SQL code. This document will help you do that.

SQL stand for structured query language, which is the most common database language. The spatial part means we can add spatial operators to a standard database language. Examples of SQL and spatialSQL that you can use are the following:

Select all parcels with a property class of single family residential

SELECT * FROM PARCELS WHERE PROP_CLASS = 210

Select all parcels that are either single family residential or multi-family residential

SELECT * FROM PARCELS WHERE PROP_CLASS in (210,220)

Select all parcels that are either single family residential or multi-family residential and have a value over $300,000

SELECT * FROM PARCELS WHERE PROP_CLASS in (210,220) AND TOT_VALUE > 300000

Select all parcels that are within 100 feet of a wetland boundary

SELECT PARCELS.* from parcels,dec_wetland where distance(parcels.id,dec_wetland.id) < 300

Select all single family residential parcels that are within 100 feet of a wetland boundary

SELECT PARCELS.* from parcels,dec_wetland where distance(parcels.id,dec_wetland.id) < 300 AND PROP_CLASS = 210

Select all single family residential parcels that are within 100 feet of stream

SELECT PARCELS.* from parcels,STREAM where distance(parcels.id,STREAM.id) < 300 AND PROP_CLASS = 210

Select the owner name and address for parcels adjacent to an individual parcel

SELECT Parcels.ID, OWNER_NAME, STREET_ADD, CITY_STATE FROM PARCELS WHERE ADJACENT((SELECT id FROM PARCELS WHERE [CC_PRINT_K] = "00100000010252000000") ,PARCELS.ID)