| | 222 | '''Objective 4: Interoperability –''' WKT Raster uses GDAL (http://www.gdal.org/) as its main connector to filesystem raster files. GDAL is involved when loading rasters into the database (using the loader) and when working with out-db rasters. It enables WKT Raster to work with nearly a hundred different file formats. (For a complete list of supported file formats see http://www.gdal.org/formats_list.html). (GDAL is also used to implement some raster processing functions, but this is another matter.) |
| | 223 | |
| | 224 | Objectives 2 and 3 respond to the most discussed idea that "storing rasters in the database is slower and useless if it does not benefit from specific databases’ features". Objective 2 makes WKT Raster an analytical toolkit, going beyond the simple data format. Objective 3 ensures storage flexibility, retrieval efficiency and transparency to users. Both objectives benefit greatly from the indexing of raster data in the database. |
| | 225 | |
| | 226 | We believe that these additional functionalities (over other raster-in-the-database implementations) make WKT Raster much more than just a new raster format, but also a necessary complement to PostGIS. |
