Lesson plan
Spatial Data File
The Spatial Data File (SDF) is a single-user geodatabase file format developed by Autodesk. The file format is the native spatial data storage format for Autodesk GIS programs MapGuide and AutoCAD Map 3D. SDF format version SDF3 (based on SQLite3) uses a single file. Prior versions of the format required a spatial index file (SIF), with an optional key index file (KIF) to speed access to the file. The SDF file format can be created and manipulated using an OSGeo FDO Provider for SDF, which is open-source software. Beyond Autodesk's products, products that can read/write the format include FME from Safe Software, Fdo2Fdo, and the FdoToolbox. The SDF format design uses low-level storage components of SQLite using a flat binary serialization (binary large objects). However, the relational aspects are not present, thus the format cannot be opened with any software designed specifically for SQLite. The format supports multiple feature classes per file and multiple geometry properties per feature class. Each geometry property is indexed using an R-tree. It is optimized for fast spatial reading of large datasets in scenarios involving a single writer and multiple readers.
Article summary
The Spatial Data File (SDF) is a single-user geodatabase file format developed by Autodesk. The file format is the native spatial data storage format for Autodesk GIS programs MapGuide and AutoCAD Map 3D. SDF format version SDF3 (based on SQLite3) uses a single file. Prior versions of the format required a spatial index file (SIF), with an optional key index file (KIF) to speed access to the file. The SDF file format can be created and manipulated using an OSGeo FDO Provider for SDF, which is open-source software. Beyond Autodesk's products, products that can read/write the format include FME from Safe Software, Fdo2Fdo, and the FdoToolbox. The SDF format design uses low-level storage components of SQLite using a flat binary serialization (binary large objects). However, the relational aspects are not present, thus the format cannot be opened with any software designed specifically for SQLite. The format supports multiple feature classes per file and multiple geometry properties per feature class. Each geometry property is indexed using an R-tree. It is optimized for fast spatial reading of large datasets in scenarios involving a single writer and multiple readers.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.