Getting Started in Snowflake

The easiest way to understand the product is to start with the context tables, then move into behavioural and spatial datasets.

Start with the metadata tables

Begin with:

• LISTING.SITE_METADATA
• LISTING.AUDIT_METADATA
• LISTING.PLAN_METADATA

These tables tell you:

• which places are included
• when audits were undertaken
• what plan and spatial reference coverage exists

Then move into the core analytical datasets

For most first-pass analysis, start with:

• LISTING.MOVEMENT_COUNTS
• LISTING.DWELL_OBSERVATIONS
• LISTING.TRACE_PATHS

These cover:

• movement volumes and mode
• observed dwell behaviour and time spent
• derived path linework for observed movement through a place

Use the shared keys consistently

The listing is designed around a small set of common keys:

• SiteGuid
• AuditGuid
• PlanId

Use:

• SiteGuid to compare everything at the place level
• AuditGuid to compare everything within a specific audit
• PlanId when you need to relate spatial observations back to a georeferenced plan

First query sequence

This is the cleanest way to get oriented:

1. Query LISTING.AUDIT_METADATA to see the available audits and dates.
2. Query LISTING.SITE_METADATA to understand site-level context.
3. Query LISTING.MOVEMENT_COUNTS for first movement analysis.
4. Query LISTING.DWELL_OBSERVATIONS for behavioural use of place.
5. Add LISTING.TRACE_PATHS or LISTING.SITE_INVENTORY once you want spatial detail.

Geospatial handling

The simplest pattern is:

SELECT
  SiteName,
  TRY_TO_GEOGRAPHY(GeometryWkt) AS geom
FROM LISTING.TRACE_PATHS
WHERE GeometryWkt IS NOT NULL;

Use TRY_TO_GEOGRAPHY(GeometryWkt) as the standard path for spatial analysis inside Snowflake.

Important scope notes

• TRACE_PATHS and FACADE_QUALITY contain derived geometry, not native GIS capture.
• INTERCEPT_RESPONSES and OBSERVATIONS contain curated qualitative content.
• photo and video media are not included in the current sample release.
• Governed plan image links are available through the metadata views where applicable.

Next pages

• Data Model and Join Keys
• Dataset Reference
• Sample SQL