Design Postgis Tables
Timescale (TigerData)OfficialCreated by tigerdataDistributed by Timescale (TigerData)
- Skill
- Guidelines
- Data and AI
- Apache-2.0
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AutoGineer summary
Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author
This guide provides best practices for designing spatial tables in PostgreSQL using the PostGIS extension. It covers critical architectural decisions such as choosing between GEOMETRY and GEOGRAPHY types, selecting appropriate Coordinate Reference Systems (SRIDs), implementing spatial indexing strategies, and optimizing query performance. The reference also includes patterns for data validation, common pitfalls to avoid, and practical examples for handling points, lines, polygons, and GPS tracking data.
What it does
- Defines criteria for choosing between GEOMETRY and GEOGRAPHY data types.
- Provides SQL patterns for creating spatial tables with appropriate constraints.
- Explains how to select and implement spatial indexes like GiST, BRIN, and SP-GiST.
- Outlines best practices for SRID management and coordinate transformations.
- Offers performance optimization techniques for spatial queries and filtering.
- Includes methods for validating geometry integrity and fixing common data issues.
When to use it
- When designing a new database schema that requires location-based data storage.
- When optimizing existing PostGIS queries that are performing poorly.
- When determining the correct spatial data type for global versus regional applications.
- When implementing spatial indexing to speed up proximity or intersection searches.
- When ensuring data integrity for spatial columns in a PostgreSQL environment.
Advantages
- Improves query performance by leveraging correct spatial indexing.
- Ensures data accuracy through proper SRID and geometry type selection.
- Reduces common errors like incorrect coordinate ordering or SRID mismatches.
- Provides clear, copy-pasteable SQL patterns for common spatial use cases.
- Helps maintain database health with built-in validation and constraint strategies.
Usage examples
- “How do I decide between GEOMETRY and GEOGRAPHY for my table?”
- The skill provides a comparison table and decision criteria: use GEOMETRY for regional data with projected coordinates for speed and complex analysis, and GEOGRAPHY for global data requiring accurate spherical calculations.
- “What is the best way to find points within a specific distance?”
- The guide recommends using the ST_DWithin function instead of ST_Distance, as ST_DWithin is index-supported and significantly faster for filtering.
- “How should I index a large table of GPS points?”
- The guide suggests using a GiST index for general spatial queries or an SP-GiST index specifically for point-only data to improve lookup efficiency.
- “How do I ensure my geometry data is valid?”
- The guide provides SQL examples to add a CHECK constraint using ST_IsValid and demonstrates how to identify and repair invalid geometries using ST_IsValidReason and ST_MakeValid.
Install
Download the skill as a ZIP:
https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/timescale/design-postgis-tables/downloadUnzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:
mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip design-postgis-tables.zip -d .agents/skills
Documentation by tigerdata
PostGIS Spatial Table Design
Before You Start (5 Questions)
What is the geographic scope (single city/region vs global)?
What are your primary query patterns (within-radius, bbox, intersects, nearest-neighbor)?
What units do you need for distance/area (meters vs CRS units), and how accurate must they be?
What is the expected scale (rows, write rate), and is the data mostly append-only?
Do you need 3D (Z) or measures (M), or is 2D enough?
SQL injection note: When turning these patterns into application code, use parameterized queries for user-provided values (WKT/WKB, coordinates, IDs, radii). Avoid string-concatenating untrusted input into SQL; for dynamic identifiers, use safe identifier quoting/whitelisting.
Core Rules
Always use PostGIS geometry/geography types instead of PostgreSQL's built-in geometric types (
POINT,LINE,POLYGON,CIRCLE). PostGIS types provide true spatial capabilities.Choose between GEOMETRY and GEOGRAPHY based on your use case: GEOMETRY for projected/local data with Cartesian math; GEOGRAPHY for global data requiring accurate spherical calculations.
Always specify SRID (Spatial Reference Identifier) when creating geometry columns. Use
4326(WGS84) for GPS/global data, appropriate local projections for regional data.Create spatial indexes on all geometry/geography columns using GiST (default). Consider BRIN only for very large GEOMETRY tables where rows are naturally ordered on disk and you can tolerate coarser filtering.
Use constraint-based type enforcement with
GEOMETRY(type, SRID)syntax to ensure data integrity.
Geometry vs Geography
When to Use GEOMETRY
Local/regional data within a single coordinate system
Projected coordinates (meters, feet) for accurate area/distance calculations
Complex spatial operations (buffering, unions, intersections)
Performance-critical queries (Cartesian math is faster)
Data already in a projected CRS (UTM, State Plane, etc.)
-- Regional data with projected coordinates (UTM Zone 10N for California)
CREATE TABLE local_parcels (
id BIGINT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
parcel_number TEXT NOT NULL,
boundary GEOMETRY(POLYGON, 26910), -- UTM Zone 10N (meters)
area_sqm DOUBLE PRECISION GENERATED ALWAYS AS (ST_Area(boundary)) STORED
);When to Use GEOGRAPHY
Global data spanning multiple continents/hemispheres
GPS coordinates (latitude/longitude in decimal degrees)
Accurate distance calculations on Earth's surface (great circle)
Simple spatial operations (distance, containment)
Data from GPS devices, geocoding services, or web maps
-- Global data with geodetic calculations
CREATE TABLE global_offices (
id BIGINT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
name TEXT NOT NULL,
city TEXT NOT NULL,
location GEOGRAPHY(POINT, 4326) -- WGS84 (lat/lon)
);
-- Distance in meters (accurate spherical calculation)
SELECT
a.name AS office_a,
b.name AS office_b,
ST_Distance(a.location, b.location) / 1000 AS distance_km
FROM global_offices a
CROSS JOIN global_offices b
WHERE a.id < b.id;Comparison Table
| Aspect | GEOMETRY | GEOGRAPHY |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinate system | Any SRID (projected or geodetic) | WGS84 (SRID 4326) only |
| Distance units | CRS units (degrees, meters, feet) | Meters (always) |
| Distance accuracy | Depends on projection | True spheroidal distance |
| Area accuracy | Accurate in projected CRS | Accurate on sphere |
| Function support | Full (300+ functions) | Limited (~40 functions) |
| Performance | Faster (Cartesian math) | Slower (spherical math) |
| Index type | GiST, BRIN, SP-GiST | GiST only |
| Best for | Regional/local data, complex analysis | Global data, GPS tracking |
Geometry Types
Point Types
-- Single location (stores, sensors, events)
location GEOMETRY(POINT, 4326)
-- Multiple discrete locations (multi-branch business)
locations GEOMETRY(MULTIPOINT, 4326)
-- 3D point with elevation
location_3d GEOMETRY(POINTZ, 4326)
-- Point with measure value (linear referencing)
location_m GEOMETRY(POINTM, 4326)Use POINT for: Store locations, sensor positions, event coordinates, addresses, POIs Use MULTIPOINT for: Multiple related locations stored as single feature
Line Types
-- Single path (road segment, river, route)
path GEOMETRY(LINESTRING, 4326)
-- Multiple paths (road network, transit lines)
network GEOMETRY(MULTILINESTRING, 4326)
-- 3D line with elevation profile
trail_3d GEOMETRY(LINESTRINGZ, 4326)Use LINESTRING for: Roads, rivers, pipelines, GPS tracks, routes Use MULTILINESTRING for: Disconnected road segments, river systems
Polygon Types
-- Single area (parcel, building footprint, zone)
boundary GEOMETRY(POLYGON, 4326)
-- Multiple areas (archipelago, fragmented habitat)
territories GEOMETRY(MULTIPOLYGON, 4326)
-- 3D polygon (building with height)
footprint_3d GEOMETRY(POLYGONZ, 4326)Use POLYGON for: Property boundaries, administrative areas, service zones Use MULTIPOLYGON for: Countries with islands, fragmented regions
Generic Types
-- Any geometry type (flexible schema)
geom GEOMETRY(GEOMETRY, 4326)
-- Collection of mixed types
features GEOMETRY(GEOMETRYCOLLECTION, 4326)Use GEOMETRY for: Flexible schemas accepting multiple types Avoid GEOMETRYCOLLECTION: Prefer homogeneous types for better indexing
Coordinate Systems (SRID)
Common SRIDs
| SRID | Name | Use Case | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4326 | WGS84 | GPS, global data, web maps | Degrees |
| 3857 | Web Mercator | Web map tiles (display only) | Meters |
| 26910-26919 | UTM Zones (US) | Regional analysis | Meters |
| 32601-32660 | UTM Zones (North) | Regional analysis | Meters |
| 32701-32760 | UTM Zones (South) | Regional analysis | Meters |
SRID Best Practices
Store in WGS84 (4326) for interoperability and GPS data
Transform to projected CRS for accurate measurements
Never mix SRIDs in spatial operations without explicit transformation
Use appropriate local CRS for area/distance calculations requiring high precision
-- Store in WGS84, calculate in UTM
CREATE TABLE survey_points (
id BIGINT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
location GEOMETRY(POINT, 4326), -- Storage: WGS84
CONSTRAINT valid_location CHECK (ST_IsValid(location))
);
-- Calculate distance in meters using UTM projection
SELECT
a.id AS point_a,
b.id AS point_b,
ST_Distance(
ST_Transform(a.location, 26910), -- Transform to UTM
ST_Transform(b.location, 26910)
) AS distance_meters
FROM survey_points a
CROSS JOIN survey_points b
WHERE a.id < b.id;Spatial Indexing
GiST Index (Default)
Most versatile spatial index. Use for all geometry/geography columns.
-- Geometry (most common)
CREATE INDEX idx_your_table_geom_gist ON your_table_name USING GIST (geom);
-- Geography (GiST is the supported option)
CREATE INDEX idx_your_table_geog_gist ON your_table_name USING GIST (geog);
-- Analyze after index creation
VACUUM ANALYZE your_table_name;Supports: All spatial operators (&&, @>, <@, ~=, <->)
Best for: General-purpose spatial queries, mixed query patterns
BRIN Index
Block Range Index for very large, naturally ordered datasets.
-- BRIN for very large, append-only GEOMETRY tables (geography uses GiST)
CREATE INDEX idx_your_table_geom_brin
ON your_table_name
USING BRIN (geom)
WITH (pages_per_range = 128);Supports: Bounding box operators (&&, @>, <@)
Best for: Append-only tables, time-series spatial data, very large datasets (>100M rows)
Trade-off: Much smaller than GiST, but less precise filtering
SP-GiST Index
Space-partitioned GiST for point data with specific distributions.
-- SP-GiST for GEOMETRY(POINT, ...) only
CREATE INDEX idx_sensors_location_spgist
ON sensors
USING SPGIST (location);Best for: Point-only data, quadtree-friendly distributions Not for: Complex geometries, mixed types
Index Selection Guide
| Scenario | Index Type | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| General spatial queries | GiST | Most versatile, supports all operators |
| Very large, append-only | BRIN | Tiny footprint, good for time-ordered data |
| Point-only, uniform distribution | SP-GiST | Efficient for point lookups |
| Geography columns | GiST | Only supported option |
| Composite spatial + attribute | GiST + B-tree | Separate indexes or expression index |
Table Design Examples
Points of Interest (POI)
CREATE TABLE pois (
id BIGINT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
name TEXT NOT NULL,
category TEXT NOT NULL,
location GEOGRAPHY(POINT, 4326) NOT NULL,
address TEXT,
metadata JSONB DEFAULT '{}',
created_at TIMESTAMPTZ NOT NULL DEFAULT now(),
CONSTRAINT valid_category CHECK (category IN (
'restaurant', 'hotel', 'gas_station', 'hospital', 'school'
))
);
-- Spatial index
CREATE INDEX idx_pois_location ON pois USING GIST (location);
-- Category + location for filtered spatial queries
CREATE INDEX idx_pois_category ON pois (category);
-- Find restaurants within 1km
SELECT name, address,
ST_Distance(
location,
ST_SetSRID(ST_MakePoint(-122.4194, 37.7749), 4326)::GEOGRAPHY
) AS distance_m
FROM pois
WHERE category = 'restaurant'
AND ST_DWithin(
location,
ST_SetSRID(ST_MakePoint(-122.4194, 37.7749), 4326)::GEOGRAPHY,
1000
)
ORDER BY distance_m;Property Parcels
CREATE TABLE parcels (
id BIGINT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
parcel_id TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
owner_name TEXT,
boundary GEOMETRY(MULTIPOLYGON, 4326) NOT NULL,
centroid GEOMETRY(POINT, 4326) GENERATED ALWAYS AS (ST_Centroid(boundary)) STORED,
area_sqm DOUBLE PRECISION GENERATED ALWAYS AS (
ST_Area(boundary::GEOGRAPHY)
) STORED,
perimeter_m DOUBLE PRECISION GENERATED ALWAYS AS (
ST_Perimeter(boundary::GEOGRAPHY)
) STORED,
CONSTRAINT valid_boundary CHECK (ST_IsValid(boundary)),
CONSTRAINT closed_boundary CHECK (ST_IsClosed(ST_ExteriorRing(ST_GeometryN(boundary, 1))))
);
CREATE INDEX idx_parcels_boundary ON parcels USING GIST (boundary);
CREATE INDEX idx_parcels_centroid ON parcels USING GIST (centroid);
-- Find parcels intersecting a search area
SELECT parcel_id, owner_name, area_sqm
FROM parcels
WHERE ST_Intersects(boundary, ST_MakeEnvelope(-122.5, 37.7, -122.4, 37.8, 4326));GPS Tracking
CREATE TABLE gps_tracks (
id BIGINT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
device_id TEXT NOT NULL,
recorded_at TIMESTAMPTZ NOT NULL,
location GEOGRAPHY(POINT, 4326) NOT NULL,
speed_kmh DOUBLE PRECISION,
heading DOUBLE PRECISION,
accuracy_m DOUBLE PRECISION
);
-- Composite index for device + time queries
CREATE INDEX idx_gps_device_time ON gps_tracks (device_id, recorded_at DESC);
-- Spatial index for location queries
CREATE INDEX idx_gps_location ON gps_tracks USING GIST (location);
-- Note: GEOGRAPHY supports GiST; BRIN is for GEOMETRY (when appropriate).
-- Create linestring from track points
SELECT
device_id,
ST_MakeLine(location::GEOMETRY ORDER BY recorded_at) AS track_line,
MIN(recorded_at) AS start_time,
MAX(recorded_at) AS end_time
FROM gps_tracks
WHERE device_id = 'device_001'
AND recorded_at >= '2024-01-01'
GROUP BY device_id;Service Areas / Coverage Zones
CREATE TABLE service_zones (
id BIGINT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
zone_name TEXT NOT NULL,
zone_type TEXT NOT NULL,
boundary GEOMETRY(POLYGON, 4326) NOT NULL,
population INTEGER,
active BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT true,
CONSTRAINT valid_zone_type CHECK (zone_type IN ('delivery', 'service', 'coverage')),
CONSTRAINT valid_boundary CHECK (ST_IsValid(boundary))
);
CREATE INDEX idx_zones_boundary ON service_zones USING GIST (boundary);
CREATE INDEX idx_zones_active ON service_zones (active) WHERE active = true;
-- Check if location is within any active service zone
SELECT zone_name, zone_type
FROM service_zones
WHERE active = true
AND ST_Contains(boundary, ST_SetSRID(ST_MakePoint(-122.4194, 37.7749), 4326));Performance Patterns
Use ST_DWithin Instead of ST_Distance
-- SLOW: calculates distance for all rows
SELECT * FROM pois
WHERE ST_Distance(location, ref_point) < 1000;
-- FAST: uses spatial index
SELECT * FROM pois
WHERE ST_DWithin(location, ref_point, 1000);Use && for Bounding Box Pre-filtering
-- Bounding box operator leverages spatial index
SELECT * FROM parcels
WHERE boundary && ST_MakeEnvelope(-122.5, 37.7, -122.4, 37.8, 4326)
AND ST_Intersects(boundary, search_polygon);Avoid Functions on Indexed Columns
-- SLOW: function prevents index usage
SELECT * FROM parcels WHERE ST_Area(boundary) > 10000;
-- FAST: use generated column with regular index
ALTER TABLE parcels ADD COLUMN area_sqm DOUBLE PRECISION
GENERATED ALWAYS AS (ST_Area(boundary::GEOGRAPHY)) STORED;
CREATE INDEX idx_parcels_area ON parcels (area_sqm);
SELECT * FROM parcels WHERE area_sqm > 10000;Simplify Geometries for Display
-- Reduce complexity for web display (tolerance in CRS units)
SELECT
id,
name,
ST_AsGeoJSON(ST_Simplify(boundary, 0.0001)) AS geojson
FROM parcels;Use Appropriate Precision
-- Reduce coordinate precision for storage efficiency
UPDATE locations SET geom = ST_ReducePrecision(geom, 0.000001);
-- GeoJSON with limited decimal places
SELECT ST_AsGeoJSON(location, 6) AS geojson FROM pois;Data Validation
Geometry Validity Checks
-- Add validity constraint
ALTER TABLE parcels ADD CONSTRAINT valid_geom CHECK (ST_IsValid(boundary));
-- Find and fix invalid geometries
SELECT id, ST_IsValidReason(boundary) AS reason
FROM parcels
WHERE NOT ST_IsValid(boundary);
-- Attempt to fix invalid geometries
UPDATE parcels
SET boundary = ST_MakeValid(boundary)
WHERE NOT ST_IsValid(boundary);SRID Consistency
-- Verify SRID consistency
SELECT DISTINCT ST_SRID(geom) FROM spatial_table;
-- Enforce SRID with constraint
ALTER TABLE locations ADD CONSTRAINT enforce_srid
CHECK (ST_SRID(location) = 4326);Coordinate Range Validation
-- Ensure coordinates are within valid WGS84 bounds
ALTER TABLE global_locations ADD CONSTRAINT valid_coords CHECK (
ST_X(location::GEOMETRY) BETWEEN -180 AND 180 AND
ST_Y(location::GEOMETRY) BETWEEN -90 AND 90
);Do Not Use
PostgreSQL built-in types (
POINT,LINE,POLYGON,CIRCLE) - use PostGIS types insteadSRID 0 (undefined) - always specify the correct SRID
ST_Distance for filtering - use ST_DWithin for index-supported distance queries
Mixed SRIDs in operations - always transform to common SRID first
GEOGRAPHY for complex analysis - use GEOMETRY with appropriate projection
Over-precise coordinates - GPS accuracy is ~3-5m, 6 decimal places (0.1m) is sufficient
Common Pitfalls
Longitude/Latitude order: PostGIS uses
(longitude, latitude)=(X, Y), not(lat, lon)GEOGRAPHY distance units: Always in meters, regardless of display
Index not used: Run
EXPLAIN ANALYZEto verify spatial index usageTransform performance: Cache transformed geometries for repeated queries
Large geometries: Consider ST_Subdivide for very complex polygons
SQL injection / unsafe dynamic SQL: Don't concatenate untrusted input into SQL. Parameterize values; for dynamic identifiers use safe quoting (
quote_ident,format('%I', ...)) or strict allowlists.
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SKILL.md
PostGIS Spatial Table Design
Before You Start (5 Questions)
What is the geographic scope (single city/region vs global)?
What are your primary query patterns (within-radius, bbox, intersects, nearest-neighbor)?
What units do you need for distance/area (meters vs CRS units), and how accurate must they be?
What is the expected scale (rows, write rate), and is the data mostly append-only?
Do you need 3D (Z) or measures (M), or is 2D enough?
SQL injection note: When turning these patterns into application code, use parameterized queries for user-provided values (WKT/WKB, coordinates, IDs, radii). Avoid string-concatenating untrusted input into SQL; for dynamic identifiers, use safe identifier quoting/whitelisting.
Core Rules
Always use PostGIS geometry/geography types instead of PostgreSQL's built-in geometric types (
POINT,LINE,POLYGON,CIRCLE). PostGIS types provide true spatial capabilities.Choose between GEOMETRY and GEOGRAPHY based on your use case: GEOMETRY for projected/local data with Cartesian math; GEOGRAPHY for global data requiring accurate spherical calculations.
Always specify SRID (Spatial Reference Identifier) when creating geometry columns. Use
4326(WGS84) for GPS/global data, appropriate local projections for regional data.Create spatial indexes on all geometry/geography columns using GiST (default). Consider BRIN only for very large GEOMETRY tables where rows are naturally ordered on disk and you can tolerate coarser filtering.
Use constraint-based type enforcement with
GEOMETRY(type, SRID)syntax to ensure data integrity.
Geometry vs Geography
When to Use GEOMETRY
Local/regional data within a single coordinate system
Projected coordinates (meters, feet) for accurate area/distance calculations
Complex spatial operations (buffering, unions, intersections)
Performance-critical queries (Cartesian math is faster)
Data already in a projected CRS (UTM, State Plane, etc.)
-- Regional data with projected coordinates (UTM Zone 10N for California)
CREATE TABLE local_parcels (
id BIGINT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
parcel_number TEXT NOT NULL,
boundary GEOMETRY(POLYGON, 26910), -- UTM Zone 10N (meters)
area_sqm DOUBLE PRECISION GENERATED ALWAYS AS (ST_Area(boundary)) STORED
);When to Use GEOGRAPHY
Global data spanning multiple continents/hemispheres
GPS coordinates (latitude/longitude in decimal degrees)
Accurate distance calculations on Earth's surface (great circle)
Simple spatial operations (distance, containment)
Data from GPS devices, geocoding services, or web maps
-- Global data with geodetic calculations
CREATE TABLE global_offices (
id BIGINT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
name TEXT NOT NULL,
city TEXT NOT NULL,
location GEOGRAPHY(POINT, 4326) -- WGS84 (lat/lon)
);
-- Distance in meters (accurate spherical calculation)
SELECT
a.name AS office_a,
b.name AS office_b,
ST_Distance(a.location, b.location) / 1000 AS distance_km
FROM global_offices a
CROSS JOIN global_offices b
WHERE a.id < b.id;Comparison Table
| Aspect | GEOMETRY | GEOGRAPHY |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinate system | Any SRID (projected or geodetic) | WGS84 (SRID 4326) only |
| Distance units | CRS units (degrees, meters, feet) | Meters (always) |
| Distance accuracy | Depends on projection | True spheroidal distance |
| Area accuracy | Accurate in projected CRS | Accurate on sphere |
| Function support | Full (300+ functions) | Limited (~40 functions) |
| Performance | Faster (Cartesian math) | Slower (spherical math) |
| Index type | GiST, BRIN, SP-GiST | GiST only |
| Best for | Regional/local data, complex analysis | Global data, GPS tracking |
Geometry Types
Point Types
-- Single location (stores, sensors, events)
location GEOMETRY(POINT, 4326)
-- Multiple discrete locations (multi-branch business)
locations GEOMETRY(MULTIPOINT, 4326)
-- 3D point with elevation
location_3d GEOMETRY(POINTZ, 4326)
-- Point with measure value (linear referencing)
location_m GEOMETRY(POINTM, 4326)Use POINT for: Store locations, sensor positions, event coordinates, addresses, POIs Use MULTIPOINT for: Multiple related locations stored as single feature
Line Types
-- Single path (road segment, river, route)
path GEOMETRY(LINESTRING, 4326)
-- Multiple paths (road network, transit lines)
network GEOMETRY(MULTILINESTRING, 4326)
-- 3D line with elevation profile
trail_3d GEOMETRY(LINESTRINGZ, 4326)Use LINESTRING for: Roads, rivers, pipelines, GPS tracks, routes Use MULTILINESTRING for: Disconnected road segments, river systems
Polygon Types
-- Single area (parcel, building footprint, zone)
boundary GEOMETRY(POLYGON, 4326)
-- Multiple areas (archipelago, fragmented habitat)
territories GEOMETRY(MULTIPOLYGON, 4326)
-- 3D polygon (building with height)
footprint_3d GEOMETRY(POLYGONZ, 4326)Use POLYGON for: Property boundaries, administrative areas, service zones Use MULTIPOLYGON for: Countries with islands, fragmented regions
Generic Types
-- Any geometry type (flexible schema)
geom GEOMETRY(GEOMETRY, 4326)
-- Collection of mixed types
features GEOMETRY(GEOMETRYCOLLECTION, 4326)Use GEOMETRY for: Flexible schemas accepting multiple types Avoid GEOMETRYCOLLECTION: Prefer homogeneous types for better indexing
Coordinate Systems (SRID)
Common SRIDs
| SRID | Name | Use Case | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4326 | WGS84 | GPS, global data, web maps | Degrees |
| 3857 | Web Mercator | Web map tiles (display only) | Meters |
| 26910-26919 | UTM Zones (US) | Regional analysis | Meters |
| 32601-32660 | UTM Zones (North) | Regional analysis | Meters |
| 32701-32760 | UTM Zones (South) | Regional analysis | Meters |
SRID Best Practices
Store in WGS84 (4326) for interoperability and GPS data
Transform to projected CRS for accurate measurements
Never mix SRIDs in spatial operations without explicit transformation
Use appropriate local CRS for area/distance calculations requiring high precision
-- Store in WGS84, calculate in UTM
CREATE TABLE survey_points (
id BIGINT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
location GEOMETRY(POINT, 4326), -- Storage: WGS84
CONSTRAINT valid_location CHECK (ST_IsValid(location))
);
-- Calculate distance in meters using UTM projection
SELECT
a.id AS point_a,
b.id AS point_b,
ST_Distance(
ST_Transform(a.location, 26910), -- Transform to UTM
ST_Transform(b.location, 26910)
) AS distance_meters
FROM survey_points a
CROSS JOIN survey_points b
WHERE a.id < b.id;Spatial Indexing
GiST Index (Default)
Most versatile spatial index. Use for all geometry/geography columns.
-- Geometry (most common)
CREATE INDEX idx_your_table_geom_gist ON your_table_name USING GIST (geom);
-- Geography (GiST is the supported option)
CREATE INDEX idx_your_table_geog_gist ON your_table_name USING GIST (geog);
-- Analyze after index creation
VACUUM ANALYZE your_table_name;Supports: All spatial operators (&&, @>, <@, ~=, <->)
Best for: General-purpose spatial queries, mixed query patterns
BRIN Index
Block Range Index for very large, naturally ordered datasets.
-- BRIN for very large, append-only GEOMETRY tables (geography uses GiST)
CREATE INDEX idx_your_table_geom_brin
ON your_table_name
USING BRIN (geom)
WITH (pages_per_range = 128);Supports: Bounding box operators (&&, @>, <@)
Best for: Append-only tables, time-series spatial data, very large datasets (>100M rows)
Trade-off: Much smaller than GiST, but less precise filtering
SP-GiST Index
Space-partitioned GiST for point data with specific distributions.
-- SP-GiST for GEOMETRY(POINT, ...) only
CREATE INDEX idx_sensors_location_spgist
ON sensors
USING SPGIST (location);Best for: Point-only data, quadtree-friendly distributions Not for: Complex geometries, mixed types
Index Selection Guide
| Scenario | Index Type | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| General spatial queries | GiST | Most versatile, supports all operators |
| Very large, append-only | BRIN | Tiny footprint, good for time-ordered data |
| Point-only, uniform distribution | SP-GiST | Efficient for point lookups |
| Geography columns | GiST | Only supported option |
| Composite spatial + attribute | GiST + B-tree | Separate indexes or expression index |
Table Design Examples
Points of Interest (POI)
CREATE TABLE pois (
id BIGINT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
name TEXT NOT NULL,
category TEXT NOT NULL,
location GEOGRAPHY(POINT, 4326) NOT NULL,
address TEXT,
metadata JSONB DEFAULT '{}',
created_at TIMESTAMPTZ NOT NULL DEFAULT now(),
CONSTRAINT valid_category CHECK (category IN (
'restaurant', 'hotel', 'gas_station', 'hospital', 'school'
))
);
-- Spatial index
CREATE INDEX idx_pois_location ON pois USING GIST (location);
-- Category + location for filtered spatial queries
CREATE INDEX idx_pois_category ON pois (category);
-- Find restaurants within 1km
SELECT name, address,
ST_Distance(
location,
ST_SetSRID(ST_MakePoint(-122.4194, 37.7749), 4326)::GEOGRAPHY
) AS distance_m
FROM pois
WHERE category = 'restaurant'
AND ST_DWithin(
location,
ST_SetSRID(ST_MakePoint(-122.4194, 37.7749), 4326)::GEOGRAPHY,
1000
)
ORDER BY distance_m;Property Parcels
CREATE TABLE parcels (
id BIGINT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
parcel_id TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
owner_name TEXT,
boundary GEOMETRY(MULTIPOLYGON, 4326) NOT NULL,
centroid GEOMETRY(POINT, 4326) GENERATED ALWAYS AS (ST_Centroid(boundary)) STORED,
area_sqm DOUBLE PRECISION GENERATED ALWAYS AS (
ST_Area(boundary::GEOGRAPHY)
) STORED,
perimeter_m DOUBLE PRECISION GENERATED ALWAYS AS (
ST_Perimeter(boundary::GEOGRAPHY)
) STORED,
CONSTRAINT valid_boundary CHECK (ST_IsValid(boundary)),
CONSTRAINT closed_boundary CHECK (ST_IsClosed(ST_ExteriorRing(ST_GeometryN(boundary, 1))))
);
CREATE INDEX idx_parcels_boundary ON parcels USING GIST (boundary);
CREATE INDEX idx_parcels_centroid ON parcels USING GIST (centroid);
-- Find parcels intersecting a search area
SELECT parcel_id, owner_name, area_sqm
FROM parcels
WHERE ST_Intersects(boundary, ST_MakeEnvelope(-122.5, 37.7, -122.4, 37.8, 4326));GPS Tracking
CREATE TABLE gps_tracks (
id BIGINT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
device_id TEXT NOT NULL,
recorded_at TIMESTAMPTZ NOT NULL,
location GEOGRAPHY(POINT, 4326) NOT NULL,
speed_kmh DOUBLE PRECISION,
heading DOUBLE PRECISION,
accuracy_m DOUBLE PRECISION
);
-- Composite index for device + time queries
CREATE INDEX idx_gps_device_time ON gps_tracks (device_id, recorded_at DESC);
-- Spatial index for location queries
CREATE INDEX idx_gps_location ON gps_tracks USING GIST (location);
-- Note: GEOGRAPHY supports GiST; BRIN is for GEOMETRY (when appropriate).
-- Create linestring from track points
SELECT
device_id,
ST_MakeLine(location::GEOMETRY ORDER BY recorded_at) AS track_line,
MIN(recorded_at) AS start_time,
MAX(recorded_at) AS end_time
FROM gps_tracks
WHERE device_id = 'device_001'
AND recorded_at >= '2024-01-01'
GROUP BY device_id;Service Areas / Coverage Zones
CREATE TABLE service_zones (
id BIGINT GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
zone_name TEXT NOT NULL,
zone_type TEXT NOT NULL,
boundary GEOMETRY(POLYGON, 4326) NOT NULL,
population INTEGER,
active BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT true,
CONSTRAINT valid_zone_type CHECK (zone_type IN ('delivery', 'service', 'coverage')),
CONSTRAINT valid_boundary CHECK (ST_IsValid(boundary))
);
CREATE INDEX idx_zones_boundary ON service_zones USING GIST (boundary);
CREATE INDEX idx_zones_active ON service_zones (active) WHERE active = true;
-- Check if location is within any active service zone
SELECT zone_name, zone_type
FROM service_zones
WHERE active = true
AND ST_Contains(boundary, ST_SetSRID(ST_MakePoint(-122.4194, 37.7749), 4326));Performance Patterns
Use ST_DWithin Instead of ST_Distance
-- SLOW: calculates distance for all rows
SELECT * FROM pois
WHERE ST_Distance(location, ref_point) < 1000;
-- FAST: uses spatial index
SELECT * FROM pois
WHERE ST_DWithin(location, ref_point, 1000);Use && for Bounding Box Pre-filtering
-- Bounding box operator leverages spatial index
SELECT * FROM parcels
WHERE boundary && ST_MakeEnvelope(-122.5, 37.7, -122.4, 37.8, 4326)
AND ST_Intersects(boundary, search_polygon);Avoid Functions on Indexed Columns
-- SLOW: function prevents index usage
SELECT * FROM parcels WHERE ST_Area(boundary) > 10000;
-- FAST: use generated column with regular index
ALTER TABLE parcels ADD COLUMN area_sqm DOUBLE PRECISION
GENERATED ALWAYS AS (ST_Area(boundary::GEOGRAPHY)) STORED;
CREATE INDEX idx_parcels_area ON parcels (area_sqm);
SELECT * FROM parcels WHERE area_sqm > 10000;Simplify Geometries for Display
-- Reduce complexity for web display (tolerance in CRS units)
SELECT
id,
name,
ST_AsGeoJSON(ST_Simplify(boundary, 0.0001)) AS geojson
FROM parcels;Use Appropriate Precision
-- Reduce coordinate precision for storage efficiency
UPDATE locations SET geom = ST_ReducePrecision(geom, 0.000001);
-- GeoJSON with limited decimal places
SELECT ST_AsGeoJSON(location, 6) AS geojson FROM pois;Data Validation
Geometry Validity Checks
-- Add validity constraint
ALTER TABLE parcels ADD CONSTRAINT valid_geom CHECK (ST_IsValid(boundary));
-- Find and fix invalid geometries
SELECT id, ST_IsValidReason(boundary) AS reason
FROM parcels
WHERE NOT ST_IsValid(boundary);
-- Attempt to fix invalid geometries
UPDATE parcels
SET boundary = ST_MakeValid(boundary)
WHERE NOT ST_IsValid(boundary);SRID Consistency
-- Verify SRID consistency
SELECT DISTINCT ST_SRID(geom) FROM spatial_table;
-- Enforce SRID with constraint
ALTER TABLE locations ADD CONSTRAINT enforce_srid
CHECK (ST_SRID(location) = 4326);Coordinate Range Validation
-- Ensure coordinates are within valid WGS84 bounds
ALTER TABLE global_locations ADD CONSTRAINT valid_coords CHECK (
ST_X(location::GEOMETRY) BETWEEN -180 AND 180 AND
ST_Y(location::GEOMETRY) BETWEEN -90 AND 90
);Do Not Use
PostgreSQL built-in types (
POINT,LINE,POLYGON,CIRCLE) - use PostGIS types insteadSRID 0 (undefined) - always specify the correct SRID
ST_Distance for filtering - use ST_DWithin for index-supported distance queries
Mixed SRIDs in operations - always transform to common SRID first
GEOGRAPHY for complex analysis - use GEOMETRY with appropriate projection
Over-precise coordinates - GPS accuracy is ~3-5m, 6 decimal places (0.1m) is sufficient
Common Pitfalls
Longitude/Latitude order: PostGIS uses
(longitude, latitude)=(X, Y), not(lat, lon)GEOGRAPHY distance units: Always in meters, regardless of display
Index not used: Run
EXPLAIN ANALYZEto verify spatial index usageTransform performance: Cache transformed geometries for repeated queries
Large geometries: Consider ST_Subdivide for very complex polygons
SQL injection / unsafe dynamic SQL: Don't concatenate untrusted input into SQL. Parameterize values; for dynamic identifiers use safe quoting (
quote_ident,format('%I', ...)) or strict allowlists.
Requirements and compatibility
Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta
“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.
The author says: Requires PostgreSQL 15+ with the PostGIS extension
Security
No issues found by our static scan· No issues found
A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.
Attribution and licence
- Created by
- tigerdata
- Publisher
- Timescale (TigerData) (Official)
- Distributed by
- Timescale (TigerData)
- Source
- timescale/pg-aiguide · skills/design-postgis-tables · commit c39008a
- Licence
- Apache License 2.0 (redistribution allowed)
- LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from LICENSE)
- NOTICE (added by AutoGineer from NOTICE)
- ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
- Synced
AutoGineer is not affiliated with or endorsed by tigerdata or Timescale (TigerData).
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The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download design-postgis-tables.zip