Introduction to PostGIS

Course Overview

This hands-on course introduces participants to spatial database concepts and practices using PostgreSQL and PostGIS — the industry-leading open source spatial database solution. You’ll learn to design efficient spatial database schemas, write spatial SQL queries, and connect your database to QGIS and other tools.

The course combines theoretical concepts with extensive hands-on practice, ensuring participants leave with working SQL skills and the ability to manage spatial data at scale. Available as a 2-day instructor-led course or as a self-paced option you can work through at your own pace.

What You Will Learn

PostGIS & PostgreSQL Setup

Install and configure a geospatial RDBMS ready for production use.

SQL Fundamentals

Build CRUD queries, understand tables, fields, and primary/foreign keys — no prior database experience needed.

Enterprise GIS Workflows

Explore how PostGIS serves as the backbone of a FOSS-based GIS stack in mixed IT environments.

Spatial Data Manipulation

Insert geometries, run spatial queries, and leverage PostGIS functions and operators.

QGIS Integration

Use QGIS as a visualisation tool and SQL client via DB Manager to import/export and display results.

Practical Application

Bring your own datasets for real-time exercises and continue practising on your own setup after the course.

Course Modules

0Course Orientation & SetupBefore you begin

Get PostgreSQL and PostGIS installed on your machine and connect to the course database. You'll be introduced to the course structure, the Communication Hub, and the sample datasets used throughout the exercises. By the end of this module you'll have a working geospatial RDBMS ready for the course.

1Introduction to PostgreSQL & PostGISDay 1 · Morning

Understand the geospatial RDBMS architecture and how PostGIS extends PostgreSQL for geographic data. You'll explore the PostGIS geometry types, spatial reference systems, and the key functions that make spatial SQL possible. By the end of this module you'll know why a spatial database outperforms shapefile workflows for real-world data management.

2SQL Fundamentals for Spatial DataDay 1 · Afternoon

Build confidence writing SQL from scratch — tables, fields, primary and foreign keys, and full CRUD operations (CREATE, READ, UPDATE, DELETE). No prior database experience required. You'll write your first spatial queries and learn the conventions that make SQL readable and maintainable in a team environment.

3Spatial Queries & PostGIS FunctionsDay 2 · Morning

Insert and manipulate geometries, run spatial queries, and apply PostGIS functions and operators. You'll work with ST_Intersects, ST_Buffer, ST_Distance, ST_Area, coordinate transformations, and spatial joins. By the end of this module you'll be comfortable answering real-world "where" questions using SQL against a live spatial database.

4QGIS Integration & Enterprise WorkflowsDay 2 · Afternoon

Connect your PostGIS database to QGIS using DB Manager. Import and export spatial data, visualise query results on a map, and explore how PostGIS fits into a FOSS enterprise GIS stack alongside GeoServer and GeoNode. The session closes with a bring-your-own-data exercise where you apply the day's skills to a real dataset of your choice.

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for:

✔ GIS professionals moving to database-driven workflows

✔ Developers building location-aware applications

✔ Analysts working with large or complex spatial datasets

✔ Database administrators managing spatial data

✔ IT staff responsible for GIS infrastructure

✔ Anyone wanting to move beyond shapefile-based workflows

What Participants Say

LSL. Strijdom★★★★★

The course is a perfect quick start guide to PostGIS and pgAdmin. The content was thorough, with comprehensive information on the slides as well as the provided documents. The steps in the exercises are easy to follow and I really appreciated that the complete version was also provided for reference. The presenter is knowledgeable and moves through the content with efficiency, but takes enough time to answer questions and make sure everyone is keeping up. The supplemental resources are also appreciated and useful for further self study.

VVictoria★★★★★

I thought that the course was really excellent, and probably learnt more during it than most other IT courses that I have attended. Using PostGIS in particular will be the test and no doubt I will have many questions along the line but I look forward to getting stuck into using the software. A great course and very worthwhile!

GTG. Taylor★★★★★

I really fantastic introductory course showing what PostgreSQL/PostGIS has to offer, I would definitely recommend this course to anyone that is looking for alternatives to costly proprietary software.

Why Train with Kartoza?

Open Source Contributors

Our trainers contribute code to PostGIS, QGIS, and GeoServer. We teach from deep, real-world project expertise.

Tailored for Your Team

On-site sessions can be customised around your organisation's data, systems, and database environment.

Practical from Day One

No death-by-slides. Every topic is covered through exercises using real spatial data from the first session.

Africa & Beyond

We have trained GIS and database professionals across Africa, Europe, and internationally, from Cape Town to Lisbon.

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