<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

  <sect1 id="Geometry_Accessors">
	<title>Geometry Accessors</title>

	<refentry id="GeometryType">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>GeometryType</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns the type of the geometry as a string. Eg:
			'LINESTRING', 'POLYGON', 'MULTIPOINT', etc.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>text <function>GeometryType</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>geomA</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns the type of the geometry as a string. Eg:
		'LINESTRING', 'POLYGON', 'MULTIPOINT', etc.</para>

		<para>OGC SPEC s2.1.1.1 - Returns the name of the instantiable
		subtype of Geometry of which this Geometry instance is a member.
		The name of the instantiable subtype of Geometry is returned as a
		string.</para>

		<note>
		  <para>This function also indicates if the geometry is measured,
		  by returning a string of the form 'POINTM'.</para>
		</note>
		<para>Enhanced: 2.0.0 support for Polyhedral surfaces, Triangles and TIN was introduced.</para>
		<para>&sfs_compliant;</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>
		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&P_support;</para>
		<para>&T_support;</para>

	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>SELECT GeometryType(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(77.29 29.07,77.42 29.26,77.27 29.31,77.29 29.07)'));
 geometrytype
--------------
 LINESTRING
</programlisting>
		<programlisting>SELECT ST_GeometryType(ST_GeomFromEWKT('POLYHEDRALSURFACE( ((0 0 0, 0 0 1, 0 1 1, 0 1 0, 0 0 0)), 
		((0 0 0, 0 1 0, 1 1 0, 1 0 0, 0 0 0)), ((0 0 0, 1 0 0, 1 0 1, 0 0 1, 0 0 0)), 
		((1 1 0, 1 1 1, 1 0 1, 1 0 0, 1 1 0)), 
		((0 1 0, 0 1 1, 1 1 1, 1 1 0, 0 1 0)), ((0 0 1, 1 0 1, 1 1 1, 0 1 1, 0 0 1)) )'));
			--result
			POLYHEDRALSURFACE
			</programlisting>
<programlisting>SELECT GeometryType(geom) as result
  FROM
    (SELECT 
       ST_GeomFromEWKT('TIN (((
                0 0 0, 
                0 0 1, 
                0 1 0, 
                0 0 0
            )), ((
                0 0 0, 
                0 1 0, 
                1 1 0, 
                0 0 0
            ))
            )')  AS geom
    ) AS g;
 result
--------
 TIN    </programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>
		<para><xref linkend="ST_GeometryType" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>
	<refentry id="ST_Boundary">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_Boundary</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns the closure of the combinatorial boundary of this
			Geometry.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>geometry <function>ST_Boundary</function></funcdef>

			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>geomA</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns the closure of the combinatorial boundary of this
			Geometry. The combinatorial boundary is defined as described in
			section 3.12.3.2 of the OGC SPEC. Because the result of this
			function is a closure, and hence topologically closed, the
			resulting boundary can be represented using representational
			geometry primitives as discussed in the OGC SPEC, section
			3.12.2.</para>
		<para>Performed by the GEOS module</para>

		<note> <para>Prior to 2.0.0, this function throws an exception if used with <varname>GEOMETRYCOLLECTION</varname>. From 2.0.0 up it will return NULL instead (unsupported input).</para></note>

		<para>&sfs_compliant; OGC SPEC s2.1.1.1</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 5.1.14</para>
		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>Enhanced: 2.1.0 support for Triangle was introduced</para>
	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		 <programlisting>SELECT ST_AsText(ST_Boundary(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(1 1,0 0, -1 1)')));
st_astext
-----------
MULTIPOINT(1 1,-1 1)

SELECT ST_AsText(ST_Boundary(ST_GeomFromText('POLYGON((1 1,0 0, -1 1, 1 1))')));
st_astext
----------
LINESTRING(1 1,0 0,-1 1,1 1)

--Using a 3d polygon
SELECT ST_AsEWKT(ST_Boundary(ST_GeomFromEWKT('POLYGON((1 1 1,0 0 1, -1 1 1, 1 1 1))')));

st_asewkt
-----------------------------------
LINESTRING(1 1 1,0 0 1,-1 1 1,1 1 1)

--Using a 3d multilinestring
SELECT ST_AsEWKT(ST_Boundary(ST_GeomFromEWKT('MULTILINESTRING((1 1 1,0 0 0.5, -1 1 1),(1 1 0.5,0 0 0.5, -1 1 0.5, 1 1 0.5) )')));

st_asewkt
----------
MULTIPOINT(-1 1 1,1 1 0.75)
</programlisting>
		</refsection>
		<refsection>
			<title>See Also</title>

			<para><xref linkend="ST_ExteriorRing" />, <xref linkend="ST_MakePolygon" /></para>
		</refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_CoordDim">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_CoordDim</refname>

		<refpurpose>Return the coordinate dimension of the ST_Geometry value.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>integer <function>ST_CoordDim</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>geomA</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Return the coordinate dimension of the ST_Geometry value.</para>

		<para>This is the MM compliant alias name for <xref linkend="ST_NDims" /></para>

		<para>&sfs_compliant;</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 5.1.3</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>
		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&P_support;</para>
		<para>&T_support;</para>
	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>SELECT ST_CoordDim('CIRCULARSTRING(1 2 3, 1 3 4, 5 6 7, 8 9 10, 11 12 13)');
			---result--
				3

				SELECT ST_CoordDim(ST_Point(1,2));
			--result--
				2

		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_NDims" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_Dimension">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_Dimension</refname>

		<refpurpose>The inherent dimension of this Geometry object, which must
			be less than or equal to the coordinate dimension. </refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>integer <function>ST_Dimension</function></funcdef>

			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>g</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>The inherent dimension of this Geometry object, which must
			be less than or equal to the coordinate dimension. OGC SPEC
			s2.1.1.1 - returns 0 for <varname>POINT</varname>, 1 for <varname>LINESTRING</varname>, 2 for <varname>POLYGON</varname>, and
			the largest dimension of the components of a
			<varname>GEOMETRYCOLLECTION</varname>.
			If unknown (empty geometry) null is returned.
		</para>

		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 5.1.2</para>
		<para>Enhanced: 2.0.0 support for Polyhedral surfaces and TINs was introduced. No longer throws an exception if given empty geometry.</para>
		<note> <para>Prior to 2.0.0, this function throws an exception if used with empty geometry. </para></note>
		<para>&P_support;</para>
		<para>&T_support;</para>
	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		 <programlisting>SELECT ST_Dimension('GEOMETRYCOLLECTION(LINESTRING(1 1,0 0),POINT(0 0))');
ST_Dimension
-----------
1
</programlisting>
		</refsection>
		<refsection>
			<title>See Also</title>

			<para><xref linkend="ST_NDims" /></para>
		</refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_EndPoint">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_EndPoint</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns the last point of a <varname>LINESTRING</varname>
		geometry as a <varname>POINT</varname>.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>boolean <function>ST_EndPoint</function></funcdef>

			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>g</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns the last point of a <varname>LINESTRING</varname> geometry
		as a <varname>POINT</varname> or <varname>NULL</varname> if the input
		parameter is not a <varname>LINESTRING</varname>.</para>

		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 7.1.4</para>
		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<note><para>Changed: 2.0.0 no longer works with single geometry multilinestrings.  In older
	  versions of PostGIS -- a single line multilinestring would work happily with this
	  function and return the start point.  In 2.0.0 it just returns NULL like any other multilinestring.
	  The older behavior was an undocumented feature, but people who assumed they had their data stored as LINESTRING
	  may experience these returning NULL in 2.0 now.</para></note>

	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>postgis=# SELECT ST_AsText(ST_EndPoint('LINESTRING(1 1, 2 2, 3 3)'::geometry));
 st_astext
------------
 POINT(3 3)
(1 row)

postgis=# SELECT ST_EndPoint('POINT(1 1)'::geometry) IS NULL AS is_null;
  is_null
----------
 t
(1 row)

--3d endpoint
SELECT ST_AsEWKT(ST_EndPoint('LINESTRING(1 1 2, 1 2 3, 0 0 5)'));
  st_asewkt
--------------
 POINT(0 0 5)
(1 row)
</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_PointN" />, <xref
		linkend="ST_StartPoint" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_Envelope">
		  <refnamediv>
			<refname>ST_Envelope</refname>

			<refpurpose>Returns a geometry representing the double precision (float8) bounding box of the
			supplied geometry.</refpurpose>
		  </refnamediv>

		  <refsynopsisdiv>
			<funcsynopsis>
			  <funcprototype>
				<funcdef>geometry <function>ST_Envelope</function></funcdef>

				<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>g1</parameter></paramdef>
			  </funcprototype>
			</funcsynopsis>
		  </refsynopsisdiv>

		  <refsection>
			<title>Description</title>

			<para>Returns the float8 minimum bounding box for the supplied geometry, as a geometry.
			The polygon is defined by the corner points of the bounding box
			((<varname>MINX</varname>, <varname>MINY</varname>),
			(<varname>MINX</varname>, <varname>MAXY</varname>),
			(<varname>MAXX</varname>, <varname>MAXY</varname>),
			(<varname>MAXX</varname>, <varname>MINY</varname>),
			(<varname>MINX</varname>, <varname>MINY</varname>)). (PostGIS will add a
			<varname>ZMIN</varname>/<varname>ZMAX</varname> coordinate as
			well).</para>

			<para>Degenerate cases (vertical lines, points) will return a geometry of
			lower dimension than <varname>POLYGON</varname>, ie.
			<varname>POINT</varname> or <varname>LINESTRING</varname>.</para>

			<para>Availability: 1.5.0 behavior changed to output double precision instead of float4</para>
			<para>&sfs_compliant; s2.1.1.1</para>
			<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 5.1.15</para>
		</refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>
SELECT ST_AsText(ST_Envelope('POINT(1 3)'::geometry));
 st_astext
------------
 POINT(1 3)
(1 row)


SELECT ST_AsText(ST_Envelope('LINESTRING(0 0, 1 3)'::geometry));
		   st_astext
--------------------------------
 POLYGON((0 0,0 3,1 3,1 0,0 0))
(1 row)


SELECT ST_AsText(ST_Envelope('POLYGON((0 0, 0 1, 1.0000001 1, 1.0000001 0, 0 0))'::geometry));
						  st_astext
--------------------------------------------------------------
 POLYGON((0 0,0 1,1.00000011920929 1,1.00000011920929 0,0 0))
(1 row)
SELECT ST_AsText(ST_Envelope('POLYGON((0 0, 0 1, 1.0000000001 1, 1.0000000001 0, 0 0))'::geometry));
						  st_astext
--------------------------------------------------------------
 POLYGON((0 0,0 1,1.00000011920929 1,1.00000011920929 0,0 0))
(1 row)
	
SELECT Box3D(geom), Box2D(geom), ST_AsText(ST_Envelope(geom)) As envelopewkt
	FROM (SELECT 'POLYGON((0 0, 0 1000012333334.34545678, 1.0000001 1, 1.0000001 0, 0 0))'::geometry As geom) As foo;

<!-- TODO: Fix examples to reflect new behavior -->
	</programlisting>
	  </refsection>
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="Box2D" />, <xref linkend="Box3D" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_ExteriorRing">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_ExteriorRing</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns a line string representing the exterior ring of the <varname>POLYGON</varname> geometry. Return
				NULL if the geometry is not a polygon.  Will not work with MULTIPOLYGON</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>geometry <function>ST_ExteriorRing</function></funcdef>

			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>a_polygon</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns a line string representing the exterior ring of the <varname>POLYGON</varname> geometry. Return
				NULL if the geometry is not a polygon.</para>

		<note><para>Only works with POLYGON geometry types</para></note>

		<para>&sfs_compliant; 2.1.5.1</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 8.2.3, 8.3.3</para>
                <para>&Z_support;</para>
	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>
<programlisting>
--If you have a table of polygons
SELECT gid, ST_ExteriorRing(the_geom) AS ering
FROM sometable;

--If you have a table of MULTIPOLYGONs
--and want to return a MULTILINESTRING composed of the exterior rings of each polygon
SELECT gid, ST_Collect(ST_ExteriorRing(the_geom)) AS erings
	FROM (SELECT gid, (ST_Dump(the_geom)).geom As the_geom
			FROM sometable) As foo
GROUP BY gid;

--3d Example
SELECT ST_AsEWKT(
	ST_ExteriorRing(
	ST_GeomFromEWKT('POLYGON((0 0 1, 1 1 1, 1 2 1, 1 1 1, 0 0 1))')
	)
);

st_asewkt
---------
LINESTRING(0 0 1,1 1 1,1 2 1,1 1 1,0 0 1)
</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para>
<xref linkend="ST_InteriorRingN" />,
<xref linkend="ST_Boundary" />,
<xref linkend="ST_NumInteriorRings" />
		</para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_GeometryN">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_GeometryN</refname>

		<refpurpose>Return the 1-based Nth geometry if the geometry is a
			GEOMETRYCOLLECTION, (MULTI)POINT, (MULTI)LINESTRING, MULTICURVE or (MULTI)POLYGON, POLYHEDRALSURFACE
			Otherwise, return NULL.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>geometry <function>ST_GeometryN</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>geomA</parameter></paramdef>
			<paramdef><type>integer </type> <parameter>n</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Return the 1-based Nth geometry if the geometry is a
			GEOMETRYCOLLECTION, (MULTI)POINT, (MULTI)LINESTRING, MULTICURVE or (MULTI)POLYGON, POLYHEDRALSURFACE
			Otherwise, return NULL</para>

		<note>
		  <para>Index is 1-based as for OGC specs since version 0.8.0.
		  Previous versions implemented this as 0-based instead.</para>
		</note>

		<note>
		  <para>If you want to extract all geometries, of a geometry, ST_Dump is more efficient and will also work for singular geoms.</para>
		</note>
		<para>Enhanced: 2.0.0 support for Polyhedral surfaces, Triangles and TIN was introduced.</para>
		<para>Changed: 2.0.0 Prior versions would return NULL for singular geometries.  This was changed to return the geometry for ST_GeometryN(..,1) case.</para>
		<para>&sfs_compliant;</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 9.1.5</para>
		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>
		<para>&P_support;</para>
		<para>&T_support;</para>

	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Standard Examples</title>

		<programlisting>--Extracting a subset of points from a 3d multipoint
SELECT n, ST_AsEWKT(ST_GeometryN(the_geom, n)) As geomewkt
FROM (
VALUES (ST_GeomFromEWKT('MULTIPOINT(1 2 7, 3 4 7, 5 6 7, 8 9 10)') ),
( ST_GeomFromEWKT('MULTICURVE(CIRCULARSTRING(2.5 2.5,4.5 2.5, 3.5 3.5), (10 11, 12 11))') )
	)As foo(the_geom)
	CROSS JOIN generate_series(1,100) n
WHERE n &lt;= ST_NumGeometries(the_geom);

 n |               geomewkt
---+-----------------------------------------
 1 | POINT(1 2 7)
 2 | POINT(3 4 7)
 3 | POINT(5 6 7)
 4 | POINT(8 9 10)
 1 | CIRCULARSTRING(2.5 2.5,4.5 2.5,3.5 3.5)
 2 | LINESTRING(10 11,12 11)


--Extracting all geometries (useful when you want to assign an id)
SELECT gid, n, ST_GeometryN(the_geom, n)
FROM sometable CROSS JOIN generate_series(1,100) n
WHERE n &lt;= ST_NumGeometries(the_geom);</programlisting>
	  </refsection>
	  
<refsection><title>Polyhedral Surfaces, TIN and Triangle Examples</title>
<programlisting>-- Polyhedral surface example
-- Break a Polyhedral surface into its faces
SELECT ST_AsEWKT(ST_GeometryN(p_geom,3)) As geom_ewkt
  FROM (SELECT ST_GeomFromEWKT('POLYHEDRALSURFACE( 
((0 0 0, 0 0 1, 0 1 1, 0 1 0, 0 0 0)),  
((0 0 0, 0 1 0, 1 1 0, 1 0 0, 0 0 0)), 
((0 0 0, 1 0 0, 1 0 1, 0 0 1, 0 0 0)), 
((1 1 0, 1 1 1, 1 0 1, 1 0 0, 1 1 0)),  
((0 1 0, 0 1 1, 1 1 1, 1 1 0, 0 1 0)),  
((0 0 1, 1 0 1, 1 1 1, 0 1 1, 0 0 1)) 
)')  AS p_geom )  AS a;

                geom_ewkt
------------------------------------------
 POLYGON((0 0 0,1 0 0,1 0 1,0 0 1,0 0 0))</programlisting>
    
<programlisting>-- TIN --		
SELECT ST_AsEWKT(ST_GeometryN(geom,2)) as wkt
  FROM
    (SELECT 
       ST_GeomFromEWKT('TIN (((
                0 0 0, 
                0 0 1, 
                0 1 0, 
                0 0 0
            )), ((
                0 0 0, 
                0 1 0, 
                1 1 0, 
                0 0 0
            ))
            )')  AS geom
    ) AS g;
-- result --
                 wkt
-------------------------------------
 TRIANGLE((0 0 0,0 1 0,1 1 0,0 0 0))</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_Dump" />, <xref linkend="ST_NumGeometries" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_GeometryType">
		<refnamediv>
			<refname>ST_GeometryType</refname>
			<refpurpose>Return the geometry type of the ST_Geometry value.</refpurpose>
		</refnamediv>

		<refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>text <function>ST_GeometryType</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>g1</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
		</refsynopsisdiv>
		<refsection>
			<title>Description</title>

			<para>Returns the type of the geometry as a string. EG: 'ST_Linestring', 'ST_Polygon','ST_MultiPolygon' etc. This function differs from GeometryType(geometry) in the case of the string and ST in front that is returned, as well as the fact that it will not indicate whether the geometry is measured.</para>

			<para>Enhanced: 2.0.0 support for Polyhedral surfaces was introduced.</para>
		 	<para>&sqlmm_compliant;	SQL-MM 3: 5.1.4</para>
		 	<para>&Z_support;</para>
		 	<para>&P_support;</para>

		</refsection>

		<refsection>
			<title>Examples</title>

			<programlisting>SELECT ST_GeometryType(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(77.29 29.07,77.42 29.26,77.27 29.31,77.29 29.07)'));
			--result
			ST_LineString</programlisting>
			
			<programlisting>SELECT ST_GeometryType(ST_GeomFromEWKT('POLYHEDRALSURFACE( ((0 0 0, 0 0 1, 0 1 1, 0 1 0, 0 0 0)), 
		((0 0 0, 0 1 0, 1 1 0, 1 0 0, 0 0 0)), ((0 0 0, 1 0 0, 1 0 1, 0 0 1, 0 0 0)), 
		((1 1 0, 1 1 1, 1 0 1, 1 0 0, 1 1 0)), 
		((0 1 0, 0 1 1, 1 1 1, 1 1 0, 0 1 0)), ((0 0 1, 1 0 1, 1 1 1, 0 1 1, 0 0 1)) )'));
			--result
			ST_PolyhedralSurface</programlisting>
			
		<programlisting>SELECT ST_GeometryType(ST_GeomFromEWKT('POLYHEDRALSURFACE( ((0 0 0, 0 0 1, 0 1 1, 0 1 0, 0 0 0)), 
		((0 0 0, 0 1 0, 1 1 0, 1 0 0, 0 0 0)), ((0 0 0, 1 0 0, 1 0 1, 0 0 1, 0 0 0)), 
		((1 1 0, 1 1 1, 1 0 1, 1 0 0, 1 1 0)), 
		((0 1 0, 0 1 1, 1 1 1, 1 1 0, 0 1 0)), ((0 0 1, 1 0 1, 1 1 1, 0 1 1, 0 0 1)) )'));
			--result
			ST_PolyhedralSurface</programlisting>
			
		<programlisting>SELECT ST_GeometryType(geom) as result
  FROM
    (SELECT 
       ST_GeomFromEWKT('TIN (((
                0 0 0, 
                0 0 1, 
                0 1 0, 
                0 0 0
            )), ((
                0 0 0, 
                0 1 0, 
                1 1 0, 
                0 0 0
            ))
            )')  AS geom
    ) AS g;
 result
--------
 ST_Tin    </programlisting>
		</refsection>
		<refsection>
			<title>See Also</title>

			<para><xref linkend="GeometryType" /></para>
		</refsection>
	</refentry>



	<refentry id="ST_InteriorRingN">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_InteriorRingN</refname>

		<refpurpose>Return the Nth interior linestring ring of the polygon geometry.
			Return NULL if the geometry is not a polygon or the given N is out
			of range.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>geometry <function>ST_InteriorRingN</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>a_polygon</parameter></paramdef>
			<paramdef><type>integer </type> <parameter>n</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Return the Nth interior linestring ring of the polygon geometry.
			Return NULL if the geometry is not a polygon or the given N is out
			of range.  index starts at 1.</para>

		<!-- optionally mention that this function uses indexes if appropriate -->
		<note>
		  <para>This will not work for MULTIPOLYGONs.  Use in conjunction with ST_Dump for MULTIPOLYGONS</para>
		</note>

		<para>&sfs_compliant;</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 8.2.6, 8.3.5</para>
		<para>&Z_support;</para>

	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>
SELECT ST_AsText(ST_InteriorRingN(the_geom, 1)) As the_geom
FROM (SELECT ST_BuildArea(
		ST_Collect(ST_Buffer(ST_Point(1,2), 20,3),
			ST_Buffer(ST_Point(1, 2), 10,3))) As the_geom
		)  as foo
		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para>
<xref linkend="ST_ExteriorRing" />
<xref linkend="ST_BuildArea" />,
<xref linkend="ST_Collect" />,
<xref linkend="ST_Dump" />,
<xref linkend="ST_NumInteriorRing" />,
<xref linkend="ST_NumInteriorRings" />
		</para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_IsClosed">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_IsClosed</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns <varname>TRUE</varname> if the
		<varname>LINESTRING</varname>'s start and end points are coincident. For Polyhedral surface is closed (volumetric).
		</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>boolean <function>ST_IsClosed</function></funcdef>

			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>g</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns <varname>TRUE</varname> if the <varname>LINESTRING</varname>'s
		start and end points are coincident.  For Polyhedral Surfaces, it tells you if the surface is areal (open) or volumetric (closed).</para>

		<para>&sfs_compliant;</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 7.1.5, 9.3.3</para>
		<note>
		  <para>SQL-MM defines the result of
		  <function>ST_IsClosed(<varname>NULL</varname>)</function> to be 0, while
		  PostGIS returns <varname>NULL</varname>.</para>
		</note>
		
		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>
		<para>Enhanced: 2.0.0 support for Polyhedral surfaces was introduced.</para>

		<para>&P_support;</para>

	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Line String and Point Examples</title>

		<programlisting>postgis=# SELECT ST_IsClosed('LINESTRING(0 0, 1 1)'::geometry);
 st_isclosed
-------------
 f
(1 row)

postgis=# SELECT ST_IsClosed('LINESTRING(0 0, 0 1, 1 1, 0 0)'::geometry);
 st_isclosed
-------------
 t
(1 row)

postgis=# SELECT ST_IsClosed('MULTILINESTRING((0 0, 0 1, 1 1, 0 0),(0 0, 1 1))'::geometry);
 st_isclosed
-------------
 f
(1 row)

postgis=# SELECT ST_IsClosed('POINT(0 0)'::geometry);
 st_isclosed
-------------
 t
(1 row)

postgis=# SELECT ST_IsClosed('MULTIPOINT((0 0), (1 1))'::geometry);
 st_isclosed
-------------
 t
(1 row)</programlisting>
	  </refsection>
	  
	  	  <refsection>
		<title>Polyhedral Surface Examples</title>

		<programlisting>
		-- A cube --
		SELECT ST_IsClosed(ST_GeomFromEWKT('POLYHEDRALSURFACE( ((0 0 0, 0 0 1, 0 1 1, 0 1 0, 0 0 0)), 
		((0 0 0, 0 1 0, 1 1 0, 1 0 0, 0 0 0)), ((0 0 0, 1 0 0, 1 0 1, 0 0 1, 0 0 0)), 
		((1 1 0, 1 1 1, 1 0 1, 1 0 0, 1 1 0)), 
		((0 1 0, 0 1 1, 1 1 1, 1 1 0, 0 1 0)), ((0 0 1, 1 0 1, 1 1 1, 0 1 1, 0 0 1)) )'));

 st_isclosed
-------------
 t


 -- Same as cube but missing a side --
 SELECT ST_IsClosed(ST_GeomFromEWKT('POLYHEDRALSURFACE( ((0 0 0, 0 0 1, 0 1 1, 0 1 0, 0 0 0)), 
		((0 0 0, 0 1 0, 1 1 0, 1 0 0, 0 0 0)), ((0 0 0, 1 0 0, 1 0 1, 0 0 1, 0 0 0)), 
		((1 1 0, 1 1 1, 1 0 1, 1 0 0, 1 1 0)), 
		((0 1 0, 0 1 1, 1 1 1, 1 1 0, 0 1 0)) )'));

 st_isclosed
-------------
 f

</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_IsRing" /></para>
	  </refsection>
        </refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_IsCollection">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_IsCollection</refname>

                <refpurpose>Returns <varname>TRUE</varname> if the argument is a
                  collection (<varname>MULTI*</varname>, <varname>GEOMETRYCOLLECTION</varname>, ...)
                </refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>boolean <function>ST_IsCollection</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>g</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

                <para>Returns <varname>TRUE</varname> if the geometry type of
                  the argument is either:
                  <itemizedlist>
                    <listitem><para>GEOMETRYCOLLECTION</para></listitem>
                    <listitem><para>MULTI{POINT,POLYGON,LINESTRING,CURVE,SURFACE}</para></listitem>
                    <listitem><para>COMPOUNDCURVE</para></listitem>
                  </itemizedlist>
                </para>

                <note>
                  <para>
                    This function analyzes the type of the geometry. This means
                    that it will return <varname>TRUE</varname> on collections
                    that are empty or that contain a single element.
                  </para>
                </note>
		
		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>

	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>postgis=# SELECT ST_IsCollection('LINESTRING(0 0, 1 1)'::geometry);
 st_iscollection
-------------
 f
(1 row)

postgis=# SELECT ST_IsCollection('MULTIPOINT EMPTY'::geometry);
 st_iscollection
-------------
 t
(1 row)

postgis=# SELECT ST_IsCollection('MULTIPOINT((0 0))'::geometry);
 st_iscollection
-------------
 t
(1 row)

postgis=# SELECT ST_IsCollection('MULTIPOINT((0 0), (42 42))'::geometry);
 st_iscollection
-------------
 t
(1 row)

postgis=# SELECT ST_IsCollection('GEOMETRYCOLLECTION(POINT(0 0))'::geometry);
 st_iscollection
-------------
 t
(1 row)</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_NumGeometries" /></para>
	  </refsection>
        </refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_IsEmpty">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_IsEmpty</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns true if this Geometry is an empty geometrycollection, polygon, point etc.</refpurpose>

	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>boolean <function>ST_IsEmpty</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>geomA</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns true if this Geometry is an empty geometry. If
				true, then this Geometry represents an empty geometry collection, polygon, point etc.</para>
		<note>
			<para>SQL-MM defines the result of ST_IsEmpty(NULL) to be 0, while
			PostGIS returns NULL.</para>
		</note>

		<para>&sfs_compliant; s2.1.1.1</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 5.1.7</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>
		<warning><para>Changed: 2.0.0 In prior versions of PostGIS ST_GeomFromText('GEOMETRYCOLLECTION(EMPTY)') was allowed.  This is now illegal in PostGIS 2.0.0 to better conform with SQL/MM standards</para></warning>

	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>
SELECT ST_IsEmpty(ST_GeomFromText('GEOMETRYCOLLECTION EMPTY'));
 st_isempty
------------
 t
(1 row)

 SELECT ST_IsEmpty(ST_GeomFromText('POLYGON EMPTY'));
 st_isempty
------------
 t
(1 row)

SELECT ST_IsEmpty(ST_GeomFromText('POLYGON((1 2, 3 4, 5 6, 1 2))'));

 st_isempty
------------
 f
(1 row)

 SELECT ST_IsEmpty(ST_GeomFromText('POLYGON((1 2, 3 4, 5 6, 1 2))')) = false;
 ?column?
----------
 t
(1 row)

 SELECT ST_IsEmpty(ST_GeomFromText('CIRCULARSTRING EMPTY'));
  st_isempty
------------
 t
(1 row)


		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	</refentry>

  <refentry id="ST_IsRing">
	<refnamediv>
	  <refname>ST_IsRing</refname>

	  <refpurpose>Returns <varname>TRUE</varname> if this
	  <varname>LINESTRING</varname> is both closed and simple.</refpurpose>
	</refnamediv>

	<refsynopsisdiv>
	  <funcsynopsis>
		<funcprototype>
		  <funcdef>boolean <function>ST_IsRing</function></funcdef>

		  <paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>g</parameter></paramdef>
		</funcprototype>
	  </funcsynopsis>
	</refsynopsisdiv>

	<refsection>
	  <title>Description</title>

	  <para>Returns <varname>TRUE</varname> if this
	  <varname>LINESTRING</varname> is both <xref linkend="ST_IsClosed" />
	  (<function>ST_StartPoint(<parameter>g</parameter>)</function>
	  <function>~=</function>
	  <function>ST_Endpoint(<parameter>g</parameter>)</function>) and <xref
	  linkend="ST_IsSimple" /> (does not self intersect).</para>

	  <para>&sfs_compliant; 2.1.5.1</para>
	  <para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 7.1.6</para>
	  <note>
		<para>SQL-MM defines the result of
		<function>ST_IsRing(<varname>NULL</varname>)</function> to be 0, while
		PostGIS returns <varname>NULL</varname>.</para>
	  </note>
	</refsection>

	<refsection>
	  <title>Examples</title>

	  <programlisting>SELECT ST_IsRing(the_geom), ST_IsClosed(the_geom), ST_IsSimple(the_geom)
FROM (SELECT 'LINESTRING(0 0, 0 1, 1 1, 1 0, 0 0)'::geometry AS the_geom) AS foo;
 st_isring | st_isclosed | st_issimple
-----------+-------------+-------------
 t         | t           | t
(1 row)

SELECT ST_IsRing(the_geom), ST_IsClosed(the_geom), ST_IsSimple(the_geom)
FROM (SELECT 'LINESTRING(0 0, 0 1, 1 0, 1 1, 0 0)'::geometry AS the_geom) AS foo;
 st_isring | st_isclosed | st_issimple
-----------+-------------+-------------
 f         | t           | f
(1 row)</programlisting>
	</refsection>

	<refsection>
	  <title>See Also</title>

	  <para><xref linkend="ST_IsClosed" />, <xref linkend="ST_IsSimple" />, <xref linkend="ST_StartPoint" />,
	  <xref linkend="ST_EndPoint" /></para>
	</refsection>
  </refentry>


  <refentry id="ST_IsSimple">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_IsSimple</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns (TRUE) if this Geometry has no anomalous geometric
				points, such as self intersection or self tangency.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>boolean <function>ST_IsSimple</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>geomA</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns true if this Geometry has no anomalous geometric
				points, such as self intersection or self tangency. For more
			information on the OGC's definition of geometry simplicity and validity, refer
			to <link linkend="OGC_Validity">"Ensuring OpenGIS compliancy of geometries"</link></para>

		<note>
			<para>SQL-MM defines the result of ST_IsSimple(NULL) to be 0,
			while PostGIS returns NULL.</para>
		</note>

		<para>&sfs_compliant; s2.1.1.1</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 5.1.8</para>
		<para>&Z_support;</para>

	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting> SELECT ST_IsSimple(ST_GeomFromText('POLYGON((1 2, 3 4, 5 6, 1 2))'));
 st_issimple
-------------
 t
(1 row)

 SELECT ST_IsSimple(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(1 1,2 2,2 3.5,1 3,1 2,2 1)'));
 st_issimple
-------------
 f
(1 row)</programlisting>
		</refsection>

		<refsection>
			<title>See Also</title>

			<para><xref linkend="ST_IsValid" /></para>
		</refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_IsValid">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_IsValid</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns <varname>true</varname> if the
		<varname>ST_Geometry</varname> is well formed.
		</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>boolean <function>ST_IsValid</function></funcdef>

			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>g</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>boolean <function>ST_IsValid</function></funcdef>

			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>g</parameter></paramdef>
			<paramdef><type>integer </type> <parameter>flags</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Test if an ST_Geometry value is well formed.  For geometries that are invalid,
			the PostgreSQL NOTICE will provide details of why it is not valid.  For more
			information on the OGC's definition of geometry simplicity and validity, refer
			to <link linkend="OGC_Validity">"Ensuring OpenGIS compliancy of geometries"</link>
		</para>
		<note>
			<para>SQL-MM defines the result of ST_IsValid(NULL) to be 0, while
			PostGIS returns NULL.</para>
		</note>

		<para>
The version accepting flags is available starting with 2.0.0
and requires GEOS &gt;= 3.3.0. Such version does not print a NOTICE
explaining the invalidity.
Allowed <varname>flags</varname> are documented in <xref linkend="ST_IsValidDetail" />.
		</para>

		<para>&sfs_compliant;</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 5.1.9</para>


	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>SELECT ST_IsValid(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(0 0, 1 1)')) As good_line,
	ST_IsValid(ST_GeomFromText('POLYGON((0 0, 1 1, 1 2, 1 1, 0 0))')) As bad_poly
--results
NOTICE:  Self-intersection at or near point 0 0
 good_line | bad_poly
-----------+----------
 t         | f
</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para>
<xref linkend="ST_IsSimple" />,
<xref linkend="ST_IsValidReason" />,
<xref linkend="ST_IsValidDetail" />,
<xref linkend="ST_Summary" />
</para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_IsValidReason">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_IsValidReason</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns text stating if a geometry is valid or not and if not valid, a reason why.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>text <function>ST_IsValidReason</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>geomA</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>text <function>ST_IsValidReason</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>geomA</parameter></paramdef>
			<paramdef><type>integer </type> <parameter>flags</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns text stating if a geometry is valid or not an if not valid, a reason why.</para>

		<para>Useful in combination with ST_IsValid to generate a detailed report of invalid geometries and reasons.</para>

		<para>
Allowed <varname>flags</varname> are documented in <xref linkend="ST_IsValidDetail" />.
		</para>

		<para>Availability: 1.4 - requires GEOS &gt;= 3.1.0.</para>
		<para>Availability: 2.0 - requires GEOS &gt;= 3.3.0 for the version taking flags.</para>

	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>
--First 3 Rejects from a successful quintuplet experiment
SELECT gid, ST_IsValidReason(the_geom) as validity_info
FROM
(SELECT ST_MakePolygon(ST_ExteriorRing(e.buff), ST_Accum(f.line)) As the_geom, gid
FROM (SELECT ST_Buffer(ST_MakePoint(x1*10,y1), z1) As buff, x1*10 + y1*100 + z1*1000 As gid
	FROM generate_series(-4,6) x1
	CROSS JOIN generate_series(2,5) y1
	CROSS JOIN generate_series(1,8) z1
	WHERE x1 &gt; y1*0.5 AND z1 &lt; x1*y1) As e
	INNER JOIN (SELECT ST_Translate(ST_ExteriorRing(ST_Buffer(ST_MakePoint(x1*10,y1), z1)),y1*1, z1*2) As line
	FROM generate_series(-3,6) x1
	CROSS JOIN generate_series(2,5) y1
	CROSS JOIN generate_series(1,10) z1
	WHERE x1 &gt; y1*0.75 AND z1 &lt; x1*y1) As f
ON (ST_Area(e.buff) &gt; 78 AND ST_Contains(e.buff, f.line))
GROUP BY gid, e.buff) As quintuplet_experiment
WHERE ST_IsValid(the_geom) = false
ORDER BY gid
LIMIT 3;

 gid  |      validity_info
------+--------------------------
 5330 | Self-intersection [32 5]
 5340 | Self-intersection [42 5]
 5350 | Self-intersection [52 5]

 --simple example
SELECT ST_IsValidReason('LINESTRING(220227 150406,2220227 150407,222020 150410)');

 st_isvalidreason
------------------
 Valid Geometry

		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_IsValid" />, <xref linkend="ST_Summary" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_IsValidDetail">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_IsValidDetail</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns a valid_detail (valid,reason,location) row stating if a geometry is valid or not and if not valid, a reason why and a location where.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>valid_detail <function>ST_IsValidDetail</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>geom</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>valid_detail <function>ST_IsValidDetail</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>geom</parameter></paramdef>
			<paramdef><type>integer </type> <parameter>flags</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns a valid_detail row, formed by a boolean (valid) stating if a geometry is valid, a varchar (reason) stating a reason why it is invalid and a geometry (location) pointing out where it is invalid.</para>

		<para>Useful to substitute and improve the combination of ST_IsValid and ST_IsValidReason to generate a detailed report of invalid geometries.</para>

		<para>
The 'flags' argument is a bitfield. It can have the following values:
			<itemizedlist>
				<listitem>
<para>
1: Consider self-intersecting rings forming holes as valid.
   This is also know as "the ESRI flag".
   Note that this is against the OGC model.
</para>
				</listitem>
			</itemizedlist>
		</para>

		<para>Availability: 2.0.0 - requires GEOS &gt;= 3.3.0.</para>

	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>
--First 3 Rejects from a successful quintuplet experiment
SELECT gid, reason(ST_IsValidDetail(the_geom)), ST_AsText(location(ST_IsValidDetail(the_geom))) as location 
FROM
(SELECT ST_MakePolygon(ST_ExteriorRing(e.buff), ST_Accum(f.line)) As the_geom, gid
FROM (SELECT ST_Buffer(ST_MakePoint(x1*10,y1), z1) As buff, x1*10 + y1*100 + z1*1000 As gid
	FROM generate_series(-4,6) x1
	CROSS JOIN generate_series(2,5) y1
	CROSS JOIN generate_series(1,8) z1
	WHERE x1 &gt; y1*0.5 AND z1 &lt; x1*y1) As e
	INNER JOIN (SELECT ST_Translate(ST_ExteriorRing(ST_Buffer(ST_MakePoint(x1*10,y1), z1)),y1*1, z1*2) As line
	FROM generate_series(-3,6) x1
	CROSS JOIN generate_series(2,5) y1
	CROSS JOIN generate_series(1,10) z1
	WHERE x1 &gt; y1*0.75 AND z1 &lt; x1*y1) As f
ON (ST_Area(e.buff) &gt; 78 AND ST_Contains(e.buff, f.line))
GROUP BY gid, e.buff) As quintuplet_experiment
WHERE ST_IsValid(the_geom) = false
ORDER BY gid
LIMIT 3;

 gid  |      reason       |  location
------+-------------------+-------------
 5330 | Self-intersection | POINT(32 5)
 5340 | Self-intersection | POINT(42 5)
 5350 | Self-intersection | POINT(52 5)

 --simple example
SELECT * FROM ST_IsValidDetail('LINESTRING(220227 150406,2220227 150407,222020 150410)');

 valid | reason | location
-------+--------+----------
 t     |        |

		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para>
<xref linkend="ST_IsValid" />,
<xref linkend="ST_IsValidReason" />
</para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_M">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_M</refname>

		<refpurpose>Return the M coordinate of the point, or NULL if not
			available. Input must be a point.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>float <function>ST_M</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>a_point</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Return the M coordinate of the point, or NULL if not
			available. Input must be a point.</para>

		<note>
			  <para>This is not (yet) part of the OGC spec, but is listed here
			  to complete the point coordinate extractor function list.</para>
		</note>
		<para>&sfs_compliant;</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant;</para>
		<para>&Z_support;</para>

	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>
		<programlisting>SELECT ST_M(ST_GeomFromEWKT('POINT(1 2 3 4)'));
 st_m
------
	4
(1 row)

		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_GeomFromEWKT" />, <xref linkend="ST_X" />, <xref linkend="ST_Y" />, <xref linkend="ST_Z" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_NDims">
		<refnamediv>
			<refname>ST_NDims</refname>
			<refpurpose>Returns coordinate dimension of the geometry as a small int.
			Values are: 2,3 or 4.</refpurpose>
		</refnamediv>

		<refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>integer <function>ST_NDims</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>g1</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
		</refsynopsisdiv>

		<refsection>
			<title>Description</title>

			<para>Returns the coordinate dimension of the geometry.  PostGIS supports 2 -  (x,y) ,
			3 -  (x,y,z) or 2D with measure - x,y,m, and 4 - 3D with measure space x,y,z,m</para>

			<para>&Z_support;</para>
		</refsection>

		<refsection>
			<title>Examples</title>

			<programlisting>SELECT ST_NDims(ST_GeomFromText('POINT(1 1)')) As d2point,
	ST_NDims(ST_GeomFromEWKT('POINT(1 1 2)')) As d3point,
	ST_NDims(ST_GeomFromEWKT('POINTM(1 1 0.5)')) As d2pointm;

	 d2point | d3point | d2pointm
---------+---------+----------
	   2 |       3 |        3
			</programlisting>
		</refsection>
		<refsection>
			<title>See Also</title>
			<para><xref linkend="ST_CoordDim" />, <xref linkend="ST_Dimension" />, <xref linkend="ST_GeomFromEWKT" /></para>
		</refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_NPoints">
		<refnamediv>
			<refname>ST_NPoints</refname>
			<refpurpose>Return the number of points (vertexes) in a geometry.</refpurpose>
		</refnamediv>

		<refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>integer <function>ST_NPoints</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>g1</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
		</refsynopsisdiv>

		<refsection>
			<title>Description</title>

			<para>Return the number of points in a geometry.  Works for all geometries.</para>
			<para>Enhanced: 2.0.0 support for Polyhedral surfaces was introduced.</para>
			<note><para>Prior to 1.3.4, this function crashes if used with geometries that contain CURVES.  This is fixed in 1.3.4+</para></note>
			<para>&Z_support;</para>
			<para>&curve_support;</para>
	  		<para>&P_support;</para>

		</refsection>

		<refsection>
			<title>Examples</title>

<programlisting>SELECT ST_NPoints(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(77.29 29.07,77.42 29.26,77.27 29.31,77.29 29.07)'));
--result
4

--Polygon in 3D space
SELECT ST_NPoints(ST_GeomFromEWKT('LINESTRING(77.29 29.07 1,77.42 29.26 0,77.27 29.31 -1,77.29 29.07 3)'))
--result
4</programlisting>
		</refsection>
		<refsection>
			<title>See Also</title>

			<para><xref linkend="ST_NumPoints" /></para>
		</refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_NRings">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_NRings</refname>
		<refpurpose>If the geometry is a polygon or multi-polygon returns the number of rings.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>integer <function>ST_NRings</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>geomA</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>If the geometry is a polygon or multi-polygon returns the number of rings.  Unlike NumInteriorRings, it counts
		the outer rings as well.</para>
		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>

	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>SELECT ST_NRings(the_geom) As Nrings, ST_NumInteriorRings(the_geom) As ninterrings
					FROM (SELECT ST_GeomFromText('POLYGON((1 2, 3 4, 5 6, 1 2))') As the_geom) As foo;
	 nrings | ninterrings
--------+-------------
	  1 |           0
(1 row)
</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_NumInteriorRings" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_NumGeometries">
		<refnamediv>
			<refname>ST_NumGeometries</refname>
			<refpurpose>If geometry is a GEOMETRYCOLLECTION (or MULTI*) return the
			number of geometries, for single geometries will return 1, otherwise return NULL.</refpurpose>
		</refnamediv>

		<refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>integer <function>ST_NumGeometries</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>geom</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
		</refsynopsisdiv>

		<refsection>
			<title>Description</title>

			<para>Returns the number of Geometries. If geometry is a GEOMETRYCOLLECTION (or MULTI*) return the
			number of geometries, for single geometries will return 1, otherwise return NULL.</para>

			<para>Enhanced: 2.0.0 support for Polyhedral surfaces, Triangles and TIN was introduced.</para>
			<para>Changed: 2.0.0 In prior versions this would return NULL if the geometry was not a collection/MULTI type. 
				2.0.0+ now returns 1 for single geometries e.g POLYGON, LINESTRING, POINT.</para>
			<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 9.1.4</para>
			<para>&Z_support;</para>
			<para>&P_support;</para>
			<para>&T_support;</para>

		</refsection>

		<refsection>
			<title>Examples</title>

<programlisting>
--Prior versions would have returned NULL for this -- in 2.0.0 this returns 1
SELECT ST_NumGeometries(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(77.29 29.07,77.42 29.26,77.27 29.31,77.29 29.07)'));
--result
1

--Geometry Collection Example - multis count as one geom in a collection
SELECT ST_NumGeometries(ST_GeomFromEWKT('GEOMETRYCOLLECTION(MULTIPOINT(-2 3 , -2 2),
LINESTRING(5 5 ,10 10),
POLYGON((-7 4.2,-7.1 5,-7.1 4.3,-7 4.2)))'));
--result
3
</programlisting>
		</refsection>
		<refsection>
			<title>See Also</title>

			<para><xref linkend="ST_GeometryN" />, <xref linkend="ST_Multi" /></para>
		</refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_NumInteriorRings">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_NumInteriorRings</refname>
		<refpurpose>Return the number of interior rings of the a polygon in
			the geometry. This will work with POLYGON and return NULL for a MULTIPOLYGON type or any other type</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>integer <function>ST_NumInteriorRings</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>a_polygon</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Return the number of interior rings of the first polygon in
			the geometry. This will work with both POLYGON and MULTIPOLYGON types but only looks at the first polygon.
			Return NULL if there is no polygon in the
			geometry.</para>

		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 8.2.5</para>
		<para>Changed: 2.0.0 - in prior versions it would return the number of interior rings for the first POLYGON in a MULTIPOLYGON.</para>
	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

			<programlisting>
--If you have a regular polygon
SELECT gid, field1, field2, ST_NumInteriorRings(the_geom) AS numholes
FROM sometable;

--If you have multipolygons
--And you want to know the total number of interior rings in the MULTIPOLYGON
SELECT gid, field1, field2, SUM(ST_NumInteriorRings(the_geom)) AS numholes
FROM (SELECT gid, field1, field2, (ST_Dump(the_geom)).geom As the_geom
	FROM sometable) As foo
GROUP BY gid, field1,field2;
			</programlisting>
	  </refsection>
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_NumInteriorRing" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_NumInteriorRing">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_NumInteriorRing</refname>
		<refpurpose>Return the number of interior rings of the first polygon in
			the geometry. Synonym to ST_NumInteriorRings. </refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>integer <function>ST_NumInteriorRing</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>a_polygon</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>


	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_NumInteriorRings" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>
	
	<refentry id="ST_NumPatches">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_NumPatches</refname>
		<refpurpose>Return the number of faces on a Polyhedral Surface.  Will return null for non-polyhedral geometries.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>integer <function>ST_NumPatches</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>g1</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Return the number of faces on a Polyhedral Surface.  Will return null for non-polyhedral geometries. This is
		an alias for ST_NumGeometries to support MM naming. Faster to use ST_NumGeometries if you don't care about MM convention.</para>

		<para>Availability: 2.0.0</para>
		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&sfs_compliant;</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: ?</para>
		<para>&P_support;</para>
	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>SELECT ST_NumPatches(ST_GeomFromEWKT('POLYHEDRALSURFACE( ((0 0 0, 0 0 1, 0 1 1, 0 1 0, 0 0 0)), 
		((0 0 0, 0 1 0, 1 1 0, 1 0 0, 0 0 0)), ((0 0 0, 1 0 0, 1 0 1, 0 0 1, 0 0 0)), 
		((1 1 0, 1 1 1, 1 0 1, 1 0 0, 1 1 0)), 
		((0 1 0, 0 1 1, 1 1 1, 1 1 0, 0 1 0)), ((0 0 1, 1 0 1, 1 1 1, 0 1 1, 0 0 1)) )'));
		--result
		6
		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_GeomFromEWKT" />, <xref linkend="ST_NumGeometries" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_NumPoints">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_NumPoints</refname>
		<refpurpose>Return the number of points in an ST_LineString or
		  ST_CircularString value.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>integer <function>ST_NumPoints</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>g1</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Return the number of points in an ST_LineString or
		  ST_CircularString value. Prior to 1.4 only works with Linestrings as the specs state.  From 1.4 forward this is an alias for ST_NPoints which returns number of vertexes for
		  not just line strings.
		  Consider using ST_NPoints instead which is multi-purpose
		  and works with many geometry types.</para>

		<para>&sfs_compliant;</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 7.2.4</para>
	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>SELECT ST_NumPoints(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(77.29 29.07,77.42 29.26,77.27 29.31,77.29 29.07)'));
		--result
		4
		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_NPoints" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>
	
	<refentry id="ST_PatchN">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_PatchN</refname>

		<refpurpose>Return the 1-based Nth geometry (face) if the geometry is a
			POLYHEDRALSURFACE, POLYHEDRALSURFACEM.
			Otherwise, return NULL.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>geometry <function>ST_PatchN</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>geomA</parameter></paramdef>
			<paramdef><type>integer </type> <parameter>n</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>>Return the 1-based Nth geometry (face) if the geometry is a
			POLYHEDRALSURFACE, POLYHEDRALSURFACEM.
			Otherwise, return NULL.  This  returns the same answer as ST_GeometryN for Polyhedral Surfaces.  
				Using ST_GemoetryN is faster.</para>

		<note>
		  <para>Index is 1-based.</para>
		</note>

		<note>
		  <para>If you want to extract all geometries, of a geometry, ST_Dump is more efficient.</para>
		</note>

		<para>Availability: 2.0.0</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: ?</para>
		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&P_support;</para>

	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>
--Extract the 2nd face of the polyhedral surface
SELECT ST_AsEWKT(ST_PatchN(geom, 2)) As geomewkt
FROM (
VALUES (ST_GeomFromEWKT('POLYHEDRALSURFACE( ((0 0 0, 0 0 1, 0 1 1, 0 1 0, 0 0 0)), 
	((0 0 0, 0 1 0, 1 1 0, 1 0 0, 0 0 0)), ((0 0 0, 1 0 0, 1 0 1, 0 0 1, 0 0 0)), 
	((1 1 0, 1 1 1, 1 0 1, 1 0 0, 1 1 0)), 
	((0 1 0, 0 1 1, 1 1 1, 1 1 0, 0 1 0)), ((0 0 1, 1 0 1, 1 1 1, 0 1 1, 0 0 1)) )')) ) As foo(geom);

              geomewkt
---+-----------------------------------------
 POLYGON((0 0 0,0 1 0,1 1 0,1 0 0,0 0 0))
</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_AsEWKT" />, <xref linkend="ST_GeomFromEWKT" />, <xref linkend="ST_Dump" />, <xref linkend="ST_GeometryN" />, <xref linkend="ST_NumGeometries" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_PointN">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_PointN</refname>

		<refpurpose>Return the Nth point in the first linestring or circular linestring in the
			geometry. Return NULL if there is no linestring in the
			geometry.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>geometry <function>ST_PointN</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>a_linestring</parameter></paramdef>
			<paramdef><type>integer </type> <parameter>n</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Return the Nth point in a single linestring or circular linestring in the
			geometry. Return NULL if there is no linestring in the
			geometry.</para>

		<note>
			  <para>Index is 1-based as for OGC specs since version 0.8.0.
			  Previous versions implemented this as 0-based instead.</para>
		</note>

		<note>
			  <para>If you want to get the nth point of each line string in a multilinestring, use in conjunction
			  with ST_Dump</para>
		</note>

		<para>&sfs_compliant;</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 7.2.5, 7.3.5</para>
		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>
		<note><para>Changed: 2.0.0 no longer works with single geometry multilinestrings.  In older
	  versions of PostGIS -- a single line multilinestring would work happily with this
	  function and return the start point.  In 2.0.0 it just returns NULL like any other multilinestring.</para></note>

	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>-- Extract all POINTs from a LINESTRING
SELECT ST_AsText(
   ST_PointN(
	  column1,
	  generate_series(1, ST_NPoints(column1))
   ))
FROM ( VALUES ('LINESTRING(0 0, 1 1, 2 2)'::geometry) ) AS foo;

 st_astext
------------
 POINT(0 0)
 POINT(1 1)
 POINT(2 2)
(3 rows)

--Example circular string
SELECT ST_AsText(ST_PointN(ST_GeomFromText('CIRCULARSTRING(1 2, 3 2, 1 2)'),2));

st_astext
----------
POINT(3 2)
</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_NPoints" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_SRID">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_SRID</refname>
		<refpurpose>Returns the spatial reference identifier for the ST_Geometry as defined in spatial_ref_sys table.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>integer <function>ST_SRID</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>g1</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns the spatial reference identifier for the ST_Geometry as defined in spatial_ref_sys table. <xref linkend="spatial_ref_sys" /></para>
		<para><note><para>spatial_ref_sys
		table is a table that catalogs all spatial reference systems known to PostGIS and is used for transformations from one spatial
			reference system to another.  So verifying you have the right spatial reference system identifier is important if you plan to ever transform your geometries.</para></note></para>
		<para>&sfs_compliant; s2.1.1.1</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 5.1.5</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>

	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>SELECT ST_SRID(ST_GeomFromText('POINT(-71.1043 42.315)',4326));
		--result
		4326
		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="spatial_ref_sys" />, <xref linkend="ST_GeomFromText" />, <xref linkend="ST_SetSRID" />, <xref linkend="ST_Transform" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_StartPoint">
	<refnamediv>
	  <refname>ST_StartPoint</refname>

	  <refpurpose>Returns the first point of a <varname>LINESTRING</varname>
	  geometry as a <varname>POINT</varname>.</refpurpose>
	</refnamediv>

	<refsynopsisdiv>
	  <funcsynopsis>
		<funcprototype>
		  <funcdef>geometry <function>ST_StartPoint</function></funcdef>

		  <paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>geomA</parameter></paramdef>
		</funcprototype>
	  </funcsynopsis>
	</refsynopsisdiv>

	<refsection>
	  <title>Description</title>

	  <para>Returns the first point of a <varname>LINESTRING</varname> geometry
	  as a <varname>POINT</varname> or <varname>NULL</varname> if the input
	  parameter is not a <varname>LINESTRING</varname>.</para>

	  <para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 7.1.3</para>
	  <para>&Z_support;</para>
	  <note><para>Changed: 2.0.0 no longer works with single geometry multilinestrings.  In older
	  versions of PostGIS -- a single line multilinestring would work happily with this
	  function and return the start point.  In 2.0.0 it just returns NULL like any other multilinestring.
	  The older behavior was an undocumented feature, but people who assumed they had their data stored as LINESTRING
	  may experience these returning NULL in 2.0 now.</para></note>

	</refsection>

	<refsection>
	  <title>Examples</title>

	  <programlisting>SELECT ST_AsText(ST_StartPoint('LINESTRING(0 1, 0 2)'::geometry));
 st_astext
------------
 POINT(0 1)
(1 row)

SELECT ST_StartPoint('POINT(0 1)'::geometry) IS NULL AS is_null;
  is_null
----------
 t
(1 row)

--3d line
SELECT ST_AsEWKT(ST_StartPoint('LINESTRING(0 1 1, 0 2 2)'::geometry));
 st_asewkt
------------
 POINT(0 1 1)
(1 row)

</programlisting>
	</refsection>

	<refsection>
	  <title>See Also</title>

	  <para><xref linkend="ST_EndPoint" />, <xref linkend="ST_PointN" /></para>
	</refsection>
  </refentry>
	<refentry id="ST_Summary">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_Summary</refname>

		<refpurpose>
Returns a text summary of the contents of the geometry.
		</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>text <function>ST_Summary</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>g</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>text <function>ST_Summary</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geography </type> <parameter>g</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns a text summary of the contents of the geometry.</para>

		<para>
                  Flags shown square brackets after the geometry type
                  have the following meaning:
                  <itemizedlist>
                    <listitem><para>M: has M ordinate</para></listitem>
                    <listitem><para>Z: has Z ordinate</para></listitem>
                    <listitem><para>B: has a cached bounding box</para></listitem>
                    <listitem><para>G: is geodetic (geography)</para></listitem>
                    <listitem><para>S: has spatial reference system</para></listitem>
                  </itemizedlist>
                </para>

		<para>Availability: 1.2.2</para>
		<para>Enhanced: 2.0.0 added support for geography</para>
		<para>Enhanced: 2.1.0 S flag to denote if has a known spatial reference system</para>

	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>
=# SELECT ST_Summary(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(0 0, 1 1)')) as geom,
        ST_Summary(ST_GeogFromText('POLYGON((0 0, 1 1, 1 2, 1 1, 0 0))')) geog;
            geom             |          geog    
-----------------------------+--------------------------
 LineString[B] with 2 points | Polygon[BGS] with 1 rings
                             | ring 0 has 5 points
                             :
(1 row)


=# SELECT ST_Summary(ST_GeogFromText('LINESTRING(0 0 1, 1 1 1)')) As geog_line,
        ST_Summary(ST_GeomFromText('SRID=4326;POLYGON((0 0 1, 1 1 2, 1 2 3, 1 1 1, 0 0 1))')) As geom_poly;
;
           geog_line             |        geom_poly
-------------------------------- +--------------------------
 LineString[ZBGS] with 2 points | Polygon[ZBS] with 1 rings
                                :    ring 0 has 5 points
                                :
(1 row)

</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para>
<xref linkend="PostGIS_DropBBox" />,
<xref linkend="PostGIS_AddBBox" />,
<xref linkend="ST_Force_3DM" />,
<xref linkend="ST_Force_3DZ" />,
<xref linkend="ST_Force_2D" />,
<xref linkend="geography" />
		</para>

		<para>
<xref linkend="ST_IsValid" />,
<xref linkend="ST_IsValid" />,
<xref linkend="ST_IsValidReason" />,
<xref linkend="ST_IsValidDetail" />
		</para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_X">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_X</refname>

		<refpurpose>Return the X coordinate of the point, or NULL if not
			available. Input must be a point.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>float <function>ST_X</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>a_point</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Return the X coordinate of the point, or NULL if not
			available. Input must be a point.</para>

		<note><para>If you want to get the max min x values of any geometry look at ST_XMin, ST_XMax functions.</para></note>

		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 6.1.3</para>
		<para>&Z_support;</para>

	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>
		<programlisting>SELECT ST_X(ST_GeomFromEWKT('POINT(1 2 3 4)'));
 st_x
------
	1
(1 row)

SELECT ST_Y(ST_Centroid(ST_GeomFromEWKT('LINESTRING(1 2 3 4, 1 1 1 1)')));
 st_y
------
  1.5
(1 row)

		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_Centroid" />, <xref linkend="ST_GeomFromEWKT" />, <xref linkend="ST_M" />, <xref linkend="ST_XMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_XMin" />, <xref linkend="ST_Y" />, <xref linkend="ST_Z" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>
	
		<refentry id="ST_XMax">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_XMax</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns X maxima of a bounding box 2d or 3d or a geometry.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>float <function>ST_XMax</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>box3d </type> <parameter>aGeomorBox2DorBox3D</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns X maxima of a bounding box 2d or 3d or a geometry.</para>

		<note>
		  <para>Although this function is only defined for box3d, it will work for box2d and geometry because of the auto-casting behavior
			defined for geometries and box2d.  However you can not feed it a geometry or box2d text representation, since that will not auto-cast.</para>
		</note>

		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>
	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>SELECT ST_XMax('BOX3D(1 2 3, 4 5 6)');
st_xmax
-------
4

SELECT ST_XMax(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(1 3 4, 5 6 7)'));
st_xmax
-------
5

SELECT ST_XMax(CAST('BOX(-3 2, 3 4)' As box2d));
st_xmax
-------
3
--Observe THIS DOES NOT WORK because it will try to autocast the string representation to a BOX3D
SELECT ST_XMax('LINESTRING(1 3, 5 6)');

--ERROR:  BOX3D parser - doesnt start with BOX3D(

SELECT ST_XMax(ST_GeomFromEWKT('CIRCULARSTRING(220268 150415 1,220227 150505 2,220227 150406 3)'));
st_xmax
--------
220288.248780547
		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_XMin" />, <xref linkend="ST_YMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_YMin" />, <xref linkend="ST_ZMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_ZMin" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_XMin">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_XMin</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns X minima of a bounding box 2d or 3d or a geometry.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>float <function>ST_XMin</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>box3d </type> <parameter>aGeomorBox2DorBox3D</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns X minima of a bounding box 2d or 3d or a geometry.</para>

		<note>
		  <para>Although this function is only defined for box3d, it will work for box2d and geometry because of the auto-casting behavior
			defined for geometries and box2d.  However you can not feed it a geometry or box2d text representation, since that will not auto-cast.</para>
		</note>

		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>
	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>SELECT ST_XMin('BOX3D(1 2 3, 4 5 6)');
st_xmin
-------
1

SELECT ST_XMin(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(1 3 4, 5 6 7)'));
st_xmin
-------
1

SELECT ST_XMin(CAST('BOX(-3 2, 3 4)' As box2d));
st_xmin
-------
-3
--Observe THIS DOES NOT WORK because it will try to autocast the string representation to a BOX3D
SELECT ST_XMin('LINESTRING(1 3, 5 6)');

--ERROR:  BOX3D parser - doesnt start with BOX3D(

SELECT ST_XMin(ST_GeomFromEWKT('CIRCULARSTRING(220268 150415 1,220227 150505 2,220227 150406 3)'));
st_xmin
--------
220186.995121892
		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_XMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_YMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_YMin" />, <xref linkend="ST_ZMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_ZMin" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_Y">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_Y</refname>

		<refpurpose>Return the Y coordinate of the point, or NULL if not
			available. Input must be a point.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>float <function>ST_Y</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>a_point</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Return the Y coordinate of the point, or NULL if not
			available. Input must be a point.</para>

		<para>&sfs_compliant;</para>
		<para>&sqlmm_compliant; SQL-MM 3: 6.1.4</para>
		<para>&Z_support;</para>

	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>
		<programlisting>SELECT ST_Y(ST_GeomFromEWKT('POINT(1 2 3 4)'));
 st_y
------
	2
(1 row)

SELECT ST_Y(ST_Centroid(ST_GeomFromEWKT('LINESTRING(1 2 3 4, 1 1 1 1)')));
 st_y
------
  1.5
(1 row)


		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_Centroid" />, <xref linkend="ST_GeomFromEWKT" />, <xref linkend="ST_M" />, <xref linkend="ST_X" />, <xref linkend="ST_YMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_YMin" />, <xref linkend="ST_Z" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>
	
	<refentry id="ST_YMax">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_YMax</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns Y maxima of a bounding box 2d or 3d or a geometry.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>float <function>ST_YMax</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>box3d </type> <parameter>aGeomorBox2DorBox3D</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns Y maxima of a bounding box 2d or 3d or a geometry.</para>

		<note>
		  <para>Although this function is only defined for box3d, it will work for box2d and geometry because of the auto-casting behavior
			defined for geometries and box2d.  However you can not feed it a geometry or box2d text representation, since that will not auto-cast.</para>
		</note>

		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>
	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>SELECT ST_YMax('BOX3D(1 2 3, 4 5 6)');
st_ymax
-------
5

SELECT ST_YMax(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(1 3 4, 5 6 7)'));
st_ymax
-------
6

SELECT ST_YMax(CAST('BOX(-3 2, 3 4)' As box2d));
st_ymax
-------
4
--Observe THIS DOES NOT WORK because it will try to autocast the string representation to a BOX3D
SELECT ST_YMax('LINESTRING(1 3, 5 6)');

--ERROR:  BOX3D parser - doesnt start with BOX3D(

SELECT ST_YMax(ST_GeomFromEWKT('CIRCULARSTRING(220268 150415 1,220227 150505 2,220227 150406 3)'));
st_ymax
--------
150506.126829327
		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_XMin" />, <xref linkend="ST_XMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_YMin" />, <xref linkend="ST_ZMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_ZMin" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_YMin">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_YMin</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns Y minima of a bounding box 2d or 3d or a geometry.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>float <function>ST_YMin</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>box3d </type> <parameter>aGeomorBox2DorBox3D</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns Y minima of a bounding box 2d or 3d or a geometry.</para>

		<note>
		  <para>Although this function is only defined for box3d, it will work for box2d and geometry because of the auto-casting behavior
			defined for geometries and box2d.  However you can not feed it a geometry or box2d text representation, since that will not auto-cast.</para>
		</note>

		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>
	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>SELECT ST_YMin('BOX3D(1 2 3, 4 5 6)');
st_ymin
-------
2

SELECT ST_YMin(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(1 3 4, 5 6 7)'));
st_ymin
-------
3

SELECT ST_YMin(CAST('BOX(-3 2, 3 4)' As box2d));
st_ymin
-------
2
--Observe THIS DOES NOT WORK because it will try to autocast the string representation to a BOX3D
SELECT ST_YMin('LINESTRING(1 3, 5 6)');

--ERROR:  BOX3D parser - doesnt start with BOX3D(

SELECT ST_YMin(ST_GeomFromEWKT('CIRCULARSTRING(220268 150415 1,220227 150505 2,220227 150406 3)'));
st_ymin
--------
150406
		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_GeomFromEWKT" />, <xref linkend="ST_XMin" />, <xref linkend="ST_XMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_YMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_ZMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_ZMin" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_Z">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_Z</refname>

		<refpurpose>Return the Z coordinate of the point, or NULL if not
			available. Input must be a point.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>float <function>ST_Z</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>a_point</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Return the Z coordinate of the point, or NULL if not
			available. Input must be a point.</para>



		<para>&sqlmm_compliant;</para>
		<para>&Z_support;</para>
	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>
		<programlisting>SELECT ST_Z(ST_GeomFromEWKT('POINT(1 2 3 4)'));
 st_z
------
	3
(1 row)

		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_GeomFromEWKT" />, <xref linkend="ST_M" />, <xref linkend="ST_X" />, <xref linkend="ST_Y" />, <xref linkend="ST_ZMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_ZMin" /> </para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>
	
	<refentry id="ST_ZMax">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_ZMax</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns Z minima of a bounding box 2d or 3d or a geometry.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>float <function>ST_ZMax</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>box3d </type> <parameter>aGeomorBox2DorBox3D</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns Z maxima of a bounding box 2d or 3d or a geometry.</para>

		<note>
		  <para>Although this function is only defined for box3d, it will work for box2d and geometry because of the auto-casting behavior
			defined for geometries and box2d.  However you can not feed it a geometry or box2d text representation, since that will not auto-cast.</para>
		</note>

		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>
	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>SELECT ST_ZMax('BOX3D(1 2 3, 4 5 6)');
st_zmax
-------
6

SELECT ST_ZMax(ST_GeomFromEWKT('LINESTRING(1 3 4, 5 6 7)'));
st_zmax
-------
7

SELECT ST_ZMax('BOX3D(-3 2 1, 3 4 1)' );
st_zmax
-------
1
--Observe THIS DOES NOT WORK because it will try to autocast the string representation to a BOX3D
SELECT ST_ZMax('LINESTRING(1 3 4, 5 6 7)');

--ERROR:  BOX3D parser - doesnt start with BOX3D(

SELECT ST_ZMax(ST_GeomFromEWKT('CIRCULARSTRING(220268 150415 1,220227 150505 2,220227 150406 3)'));
st_zmax
--------
3
		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_GeomFromEWKT" />, <xref linkend="ST_XMin" />, <xref linkend="ST_XMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_YMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_YMin" />, <xref linkend="ST_ZMax" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>

	<refentry id="ST_Zmflag">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_Zmflag</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns ZM (dimension semantic) flag of the geometries as a
			small int. Values are: 0=2d, 1=3dm, 2=3dz, 3=4d.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>smallint <function>ST_Zmflag</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>geometry </type> <parameter>geomA</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns ZM (dimension semantic) flag of the geometries as a
			small int. Values are: 0=2d, 1=3dm, 2=3dz, 3=4d.</para>

		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>
	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>SELECT ST_Zmflag(ST_GeomFromEWKT('LINESTRING(1 2, 3 4)'));
 st_zmflag
-----------
		 0

SELECT ST_Zmflag(ST_GeomFromEWKT('LINESTRINGM(1 2 3, 3 4 3)'));
 st_zmflag
-----------
		 1

SELECT ST_Zmflag(ST_GeomFromEWKT('CIRCULARSTRING(1 2 3, 3 4 3, 5 6 3)'));
 st_zmflag
-----------
		 2
SELECT ST_Zmflag(ST_GeomFromEWKT('POINT(1 2 3 4)'));
 st_zmflag
-----------
		 3
</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_CoordDim" />, <xref linkend="ST_NDims" />, <xref linkend="ST_Dimension" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>
	
	<refentry id="ST_ZMin">
	  <refnamediv>
		<refname>ST_ZMin</refname>

		<refpurpose>Returns Z minima of a bounding box 2d or 3d or a geometry.</refpurpose>
	  </refnamediv>

	  <refsynopsisdiv>
		<funcsynopsis>
		  <funcprototype>
			<funcdef>float <function>ST_ZMin</function></funcdef>
			<paramdef><type>box3d </type> <parameter>aGeomorBox2DorBox3D</parameter></paramdef>
		  </funcprototype>
		</funcsynopsis>
	  </refsynopsisdiv>

	  <refsection>
		<title>Description</title>

		<para>Returns Z minima of a bounding box 2d or 3d or a geometry.</para>

		<note>
		  <para>Although this function is only defined for box3d, it will work for box2d and geometry because of the auto-casting behavior
			defined for geometries and box2d.  However you can not feed it a geometry or box2d text representation, since that will not auto-cast.</para>
		</note>

		<para>&Z_support;</para>
		<para>&curve_support;</para>
	  </refsection>


	  <refsection>
		<title>Examples</title>

		<programlisting>SELECT ST_ZMin('BOX3D(1 2 3, 4 5 6)');
st_zmin
-------
3

SELECT ST_ZMin(ST_GeomFromEWKT('LINESTRING(1 3 4, 5 6 7)'));
st_zmin
-------
4

SELECT ST_ZMin('BOX3D(-3 2 1, 3 4 1)' );
st_zmin
-------
1
--Observe THIS DOES NOT WORK because it will try to autocast the string representation to a BOX3D
SELECT ST_ZMin('LINESTRING(1 3 4, 5 6 7)');

--ERROR:  BOX3D parser - doesnt start with BOX3D(

SELECT ST_ZMin(ST_GeomFromEWKT('CIRCULARSTRING(220268 150415 1,220227 150505 2,220227 150406 3)'));
st_zmin
--------
1
		</programlisting>
	  </refsection>

	  <!-- Optionally add a "See Also" section -->
	  <refsection>
		<title>See Also</title>

		<para><xref linkend="ST_GeomFromEWKT" />, <xref linkend="ST_GeomFromText" />, <xref linkend="ST_XMin" />, <xref linkend="ST_XMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_YMax" />, <xref linkend="ST_YMin" />, <xref linkend="ST_ZMax" /></para>
	  </refsection>
	</refentry>


  </sect1>
