diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/__init__.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/__init__.py
index fd838821da..e797942c0e 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/__init__.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/__init__.py
@@ -9,66 +9,101 @@
      the backend.
  (3) The `parse_lookup` function, used for spatial SQL construction by
      the GeoQuerySet.
- (4) The `create_spatial_db`, and `get_geo_where_clause`
-     routines (needed by `parse_lookup`).
+ (4) The `create_spatial_db`, and `get_geo_where_clause` 
+     (needed by `parse_lookup`) functions.
  (5) The `SpatialBackend` object, which contains information specific
      to the spatial backend.
 """
-from types import StringType, UnicodeType
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.db import connection
 from django.db.models.query import field_choices, find_field, get_where_clause, \
     FieldFound, LOOKUP_SEPARATOR, QUERY_TERMS
 from django.utils.datastructures import SortedDict
-from django.contrib.gis.geos import GEOSGeometry
+from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.util import gqn
 
 # These routines (needed by GeoManager), default to False.
-ASGML, ASKML, DISTANCE, EXTENT, TRANSFORM, UNION, VERSION = (False, False, False, False, False, False, False)
+ASGML, ASKML, DISTANCE, DISTANCE_SPHEROID, EXTENT, TRANSFORM, UNION, VERSION = tuple(False for i in range(8))
 
+# Lookup types in which the rest of the parameters are not 
+# needed to be substitute in the WHERE SQL (e.g., the 'relate'
+# operation on Oracle does not need the mask substituted back
+# into the query SQL.).
+LIMITED_WHERE = []
+
+# Retrieving the necessary settings from the backend.
 if settings.DATABASE_ENGINE == 'postgresql_psycopg2':
-    # PostGIS is the spatial database, getting the rquired modules, 
-    # renaming as necessary.
-    from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.postgis import \
-        PostGISField as GeoBackendField, POSTGIS_TERMS as GIS_TERMS, \
-        create_spatial_db, get_geo_where_clause, \
-        ASGML, ASKML, DISTANCE, EXTENT, GEOM_SELECT, TRANSFORM, UNION, \
+    from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.postgis.adaptor import \
+        PostGISAdaptor as GeoAdaptor
+    from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.postgis.field import \
+        PostGISField as GeoBackendField
+    from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.postgis.creation import create_spatial_db
+    from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.postgis.query import \
+        get_geo_where_clause, POSTGIS_TERMS as GIS_TERMS, \
+        ASGML, ASKML, DISTANCE, DISTANCE_SPHEROID, DISTANCE_FUNCTIONS, \
+        EXTENT, GEOM_SELECT, TRANSFORM, UNION, \
         MAJOR_VERSION, MINOR_VERSION1, MINOR_VERSION2
+    # PostGIS version info is needed to determine calling order of some
+    # stored procedures (e.g., AsGML()).
     VERSION = (MAJOR_VERSION, MINOR_VERSION1, MINOR_VERSION2)
     SPATIAL_BACKEND = 'postgis'
 elif settings.DATABASE_ENGINE == 'oracle':
-    from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.oracle import \
-         OracleSpatialField as GeoBackendField, \
-         ORACLE_SPATIAL_TERMS as GIS_TERMS, \
-         create_spatial_db, get_geo_where_clause, \
-         ASGML, DISTANCE, GEOM_SELECT, TRANSFORM, UNION
+    from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.oracle.adaptor import \
+        OracleSpatialAdaptor as GeoAdaptor
+    from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.oracle.field import \
+        OracleSpatialField as GeoBackendField
+    from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.oracle.creation import create_spatial_db
+    from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.oracle.query import \
+        get_geo_where_clause, ORACLE_SPATIAL_TERMS as GIS_TERMS, \
+        ASGML, DISTANCE, DISTANCE_FUNCTIONS, GEOM_SELECT, TRANSFORM, UNION
     SPATIAL_BACKEND = 'oracle'
+    LIMITED_WHERE = ['relate']
 elif settings.DATABASE_ENGINE == 'mysql':
-    from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.mysql import \
-        MySQLGeoField as GeoBackendField, \
-        MYSQL_GIS_TERMS as GIS_TERMS, \
-        create_spatial_db, get_geo_where_clause, \
-        GEOM_SELECT
+    from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.mysql.adaptor import \
+        MySQLAdaptor as GeoAdaptor
+    from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.mysql.field import \
+        MySQLGeoField as GeoBackendField
+    from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.mysql.creation import create_spatial_db
+    from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.mysql.query import \
+        get_geo_where_clause, MYSQL_GIS_TERMS as GIS_TERMS, GEOM_SELECT
+    DISTANCE_FUNCTIONS = {}
     SPATIAL_BACKEND = 'mysql'
 else:
     raise NotImplementedError('No Geographic Backend exists for %s' % settings.DATABASE_ENGINE)
 
 class SpatialBackend(object):
-    "A container for properties of the Spatial Backend."
+    "A container for properties of the SpatialBackend."
+    # Stored procedure names used by the `GeoManager`.
     as_kml = ASKML
     as_gml = ASGML
     distance = DISTANCE
+    distance_spheroid = DISTANCE_SPHEROID
     extent = EXTENT
     name = SPATIAL_BACKEND
     select = GEOM_SELECT
     transform = TRANSFORM
     union = UNION
+    
+    # Version information, if defined.
     version = VERSION
+    
+    # All valid GIS lookup terms, and distance functions.
+    gis_terms = GIS_TERMS
+    distance_functions = DISTANCE_FUNCTIONS
+    
+    # Lookup types where additional WHERE parameters are excluded.
+    limited_where = LIMITED_WHERE
+
+    # Class for the backend field.
+    Field = GeoBackendField
+
+    # Adaptor class used for quoting GEOS geometries in the database.
+    Adaptor = GeoAdaptor
 
 ####    query.py overloaded functions    ####
 # parse_lookup() and lookup_inner() are modified from their django/db/models/query.py
 #  counterparts to support constructing SQL for geographic queries.
 #
-# Status: Synced with r5982.
+# Status: Synced with r7098.
 #
 def parse_lookup(kwarg_items, opts):
     # Helper function that handles converting API kwargs
@@ -290,16 +325,17 @@ def lookup_inner(path, lookup_type, value, opts, table, column):
         # If the field is a geometry field, then the WHERE clause will need to be obtained
         # with the get_geo_where_clause()
         if hasattr(field, '_geom'):
-            # Getting the preparation SQL object from the field.
-            geo_prep = field.get_db_prep_lookup(lookup_type, value)
+            # Getting additional SQL WHERE and params arrays associated with 
+            # the geographic field.
+            geo_where, geo_params = field.get_db_prep_lookup(lookup_type, value)
             
-            # Getting the adapted geometry from the field.
-            gwc = get_geo_where_clause(lookup_type, current_table, column, value)
+            # Getting the geographic WHERE clause.
+            gwc = get_geo_where_clause(lookup_type, current_table, field, value)
 
-            # Substituting in the the where parameters into the geographic where
-            # clause, and extending the parameters.
-            where.append(gwc % tuple(geo_prep.where))
-            params.extend(geo_prep.params)
+            # Appending the geographic WHERE componnents and parameters onto
+            # the where and params arrays. 
+            where.append(gwc % tuple(geo_where))
+            params.extend(geo_params)
         else:
             where.append(get_where_clause(lookup_type, current_table + '.', column, value, db_type))
             params.extend(field.get_db_prep_lookup(lookup_type, value))
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/mysql/__init__.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/mysql/__init__.py
index 3e6bee9082..8b13789179 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/mysql/__init__.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/mysql/__init__.py
@@ -1,12 +1 @@
-"""
- The MySQL spatial database backend module.
 
- Please note that MySQL only supports bounding box queries, also
- known as MBRs (Minimum Bounding Rectangles).  Moreover, spatial
- indices may only be used on MyISAM tables -- if you need 
- transactions, take a look at PostGIS.
-"""
-
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.mysql.creation import create_spatial_db
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.mysql.field import MySQLGeoField, gqn
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.mysql.query import get_geo_where_clause, MYSQL_GIS_TERMS, GEOM_SELECT
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/mysql/adaptor.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/mysql/adaptor.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9a702d3fdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/mysql/adaptor.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+"""
+ This object provides quoting for GEOS geometries into MySQL.
+"""
+class MySQLAdaptor(object):
+    def __init__(self, geom):
+        self.wkt = geom.wkt
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        "WKT is used as for the substitution value for the geometry."
+        return self.wkt
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/mysql/field.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/mysql/field.py
index c53ada1f1b..f3151f93ff 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/mysql/field.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/mysql/field.py
@@ -1,16 +1,9 @@
-import re
-from types import StringType, UnicodeType
 from django.db import connection
 from django.db.models.fields import Field # Django base Field class
-from django.contrib.gis.geos import GEOSGeometry
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.util import GeoFieldSQL
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.mysql.query import MYSQL_GIS_TERMS, GEOM_FROM_TEXT
+from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.mysql.query import GEOM_FROM_TEXT
 
 # Quotename & geographic quotename, respectively.
 qn = connection.ops.quote_name
-def gqn(value):
-    if isinstance(value, UnicodeType): value = value.encode('ascii')
-    return "'%s'" % value
 
 class MySQLGeoField(Field):
     """
@@ -23,7 +16,7 @@ class MySQLGeoField(Field):
         used an R-Tree index is created, otherwise a B-Tree index is created. 
         Thus, for best spatial performance, you should use MyISAM tables
         (which do not support transactions).  For more information, see Ch. 
-        17.6.1 of the MySQL 5.0 documentation.
+        16.6.1 of the MySQL 5.0 documentation.
         """
 
         # Getting the index name.
@@ -50,43 +43,11 @@ class MySQLGeoField(Field):
     def db_type(self):
         "The OpenGIS name is returned for the MySQL database column type."
         return self._geom
-        
-    def get_db_prep_lookup(self, lookup_type, value):
-        """
-        Returns field's value prepared for database lookup, accepts WKT and 
-        GEOS Geometries for the value.
-        """
-        if lookup_type in MYSQL_GIS_TERMS:
-            # special case for isnull lookup
-            if lookup_type == 'isnull': return GeoFieldSQL([], [])
-
-            # When the input is not a GEOS geometry, attempt to construct one
-            # from the given string input.
-            if isinstance(value, GEOSGeometry):
-                pass
-            elif isinstance(value, (StringType, UnicodeType)):
-                try:
-                    value = GEOSGeometry(value)
-                except GEOSException:
-                    raise TypeError("Could not create geometry from lookup value: %s" % str(value))
-            else:
-                raise TypeError('Cannot use parameter of %s type as lookup parameter.' % type(value))
-
-            return GeoFieldSQL(['%s(%%s)' % GEOM_FROM_TEXT], [value])
-
-        else:
-            raise TypeError("Field has invalid lookup: %s" % lookup_type)
-
-    def get_db_prep_save(self, value):
-        "Prepares the value for saving in the database."
-        if not bool(value): return None
-        if isinstance(value, GEOSGeometry):
-            return value
-        else:
-            raise TypeError('Geometry Proxy should only return GEOSGeometry objects.')
 
     def get_placeholder(self, value):
         """
-        Nothing special happens here because MySQL does not support transformations.
+        The placeholder here has to include MySQL's WKT constructor.  Because 
+        MySQL does not support spatial transformations, there is no need to 
+        modify the placeholder based on the contents of the given value.
         """
         return '%s(%%s)' % GEOM_FROM_TEXT
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/mysql/query.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/mysql/query.py
index d7bac0f84f..4a4cca45af 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/mysql/query.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/mysql/query.py
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 """
- This module contains the spatial lookup types, and the get_geo_where_clause()
- routine for MySQL
+ This module contains the spatial lookup types, and the `get_geo_where_clause`
+ routine for MySQL.
+
+ Please note that MySQL only supports bounding box queries, also
+ known as MBRs (Minimum Bounding Rectangles).  Moreover, spatial
+ indices may only be used on MyISAM tables -- if you need 
+ transactions, take a look at PostGIS.
 """
 from django.db import connection
 qn = connection.ops.quote_name
@@ -34,10 +39,10 @@ MYSQL_GIS_TERMS  = MYSQL_GIS_FUNCTIONS.keys()
 MYSQL_GIS_TERMS += MISC_TERMS
 MYSQL_GIS_TERMS = tuple(MYSQL_GIS_TERMS) # Making immutable
 
-def get_geo_where_clause(lookup_type, table_prefix, field_name, value):
+def get_geo_where_clause(lookup_type, table_prefix, field, value):
     "Returns the SQL WHERE clause for use in MySQL spatial SQL construction."
     # Getting the quoted field as `geo_col`.
-    geo_col = '%s.%s' % (qn(table_prefix), qn(field_name))
+    geo_col = '%s.%s' % (qn(table_prefix), qn(field.column))
 
     # See if a MySQL Geometry function matches the lookup type next
     lookup_info = MYSQL_GIS_FUNCTIONS.get(lookup_type, False)
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/__init__.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/__init__.py
index 7384b56027..e69de29bb2 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/__init__.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/__init__.py
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-"""
- The Oracle spatial database backend module.
-
- Please note that WKT support is broken on the XE version, and thus
- this backend will not work on such platforms.  Specifically, XE lacks 
- support for an internal JVM, and Java libraries are required to use 
- the WKT constructors.
-"""
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.oracle.creation import create_spatial_db
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.oracle.field import OracleSpatialField, gqn
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.oracle.query import \
-     get_geo_where_clause, ORACLE_SPATIAL_TERMS, \
-     ASGML, DISTANCE, GEOM_SELECT, TRANSFORM, UNION
-
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/adaptor.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/adaptor.py
index e23ecb5c5c..7b1caa2ad9 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/adaptor.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/adaptor.py
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 """
  This object provides the database adaptor for Oracle geometries.
 """
-from cx_Oracle import CLOB
-
 class OracleSpatialAdaptor(object):
     def __init__(self, geom):
         "Initializes only on the geometry object."
@@ -11,11 +9,3 @@ class OracleSpatialAdaptor(object):
     def __str__(self):
         "WKT is used for the substitution value of the geometry."
         return self.wkt
-
-    def oracle_type(self):
-        """
-        The parameter type is a CLOB because no string (VARCHAR2) greater
-        than 4000 characters will be accepted through the Oracle database
-        API and/or SQL*Plus.
-        """
-        return CLOB
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/field.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/field.py
index a7d8e68778..829d5a5b02 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/field.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/field.py
@@ -1,18 +1,11 @@
-import re
-from types import StringType, UnicodeType
 from django.db import connection
 from django.db.backends.util import truncate_name
 from django.db.models.fields import Field # Django base Field class
-from django.contrib.gis.geos import GEOSGeometry
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.util import GeoFieldSQL
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.oracle.adaptor import OracleSpatialAdaptor
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.oracle.query import ORACLE_SPATIAL_TERMS, DISTANCE_FUNCTIONS, TRANSFORM
+from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.util import gqn
+from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.oracle.query import TRANSFORM
 
 # Quotename & geographic quotename, respectively.
 qn = connection.ops.quote_name
-def gqn(value):
-    if isinstance(value, UnicodeType): value = value.encode('ascii')
-    return "'%s'" % value
 
 class OracleSpatialField(Field):
     """
@@ -95,64 +88,16 @@ class OracleSpatialField(Field):
         "The Oracle geometric data type is MDSYS.SDO_GEOMETRY."
         return 'MDSYS.SDO_GEOMETRY'
         
-    def get_db_prep_lookup(self, lookup_type, value):
-        """
-        Returns field's value prepared for database lookup, accepts WKT and 
-        GEOS Geometries for the value.
-        """
-        if lookup_type in ORACLE_SPATIAL_TERMS:
-            # special case for isnull lookup
-            if lookup_type == 'isnull': return GeoFieldSQL([], [])
-
-            # Get the geometry with SRID; defaults SRID to that
-            # of the field if it is None
-            geom = self.get_geometry(value)
-            
-            # The adaptor will be used by psycopg2 for quoting the WKT.
-            adapt = OracleSpatialAdaptor(geom)
-
-            if geom.srid != self._srid:
-                # Adding the necessary string substitutions and parameters
-                # to perform a geometry transformation.
-                where = ['%s(SDO_GEOMETRY(%%s, %s), %%s)' % (TRANSFORM, geom.srid)]
-                params = [adapt, self._srid]
-            else:
-                where = ['SDO_GEOMETRY(%%s, %s)' % geom.srid]
-                params = [adapt]
-
-            if isinstance(value, tuple):
-                if lookup_type in DISTANCE_FUNCTIONS or lookup_type == 'dwithin':
-                    # Getting the distance parameter in the units of the field
-                    where += [self.get_distance(value[1])]
-                elif lookup_type == 'relate':
-                    # No extra where parameters for SDO_RELATE queries.
-                    pass
-                else:
-                    where += map(gqn, value[1:])
-            return GeoFieldSQL(where, params)
-        else:
-            raise TypeError("Field has invalid lookup: %s" % lookup_type)
-
-    def get_db_prep_save(self, value):
-        "Prepares the value for saving in the database."
-        if not bool(value):
-            # Return an empty string for NULL -- but this doesn't work yet.
-            return ''
-        if isinstance(value, GEOSGeometry):
-            return OracleSpatialAdaptor(value)
-        else:
-            raise TypeError('Geometry Proxy should only return GEOSGeometry objects.')
-
     def get_placeholder(self, value):
         """
         Provides a proper substitution value for Geometries that are not in the
         SRID of the field.  Specifically, this routine will substitute in the
         SDO_CS.TRANSFORM() function call.
         """
-        if isinstance(value, GEOSGeometry) and value.srid != self._srid:
+        if value is None:
+            return '%s'
+        elif value.srid != self._srid:
             # Adding Transform() to the SQL placeholder.
             return '%s(SDO_GEOMETRY(%%s, %s), %s)' % (TRANSFORM, value.srid, self._srid)
-        elif value is None:
-            return '%s'
         else:
             return 'SDO_GEOMETRY(%%s, %s)' % self._srid
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/query.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/query.py
index 7303eacf2d..f1841e0fc0 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/query.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/oracle/query.py
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 """
- This module contains the spatial lookup types, and the get_geo_where_clause()
+ This module contains the spatial lookup types, and the `get_geo_where_clause`
  routine for Oracle Spatial.
+
+ Please note that WKT support is broken on the XE version, and thus
+ this backend will not work on such platforms.  Specifically, XE lacks 
+ support for an internal JVM, and Java libraries are required to use 
+ the WKT constructors.
 """
 import re
 from decimal import Decimal
@@ -25,8 +30,11 @@ GEOM_SELECT = 'SDO_UTIL.TO_WKTGEOMETRY(%s)'
 #### Classes used in constructing Oracle spatial SQL ####
 class SDOOperation(SpatialFunction):
     "Base class for SDO* Oracle operations."
-    def __init__(self, func, end_subst=") %s '%s'"):
-        super(SDOOperation, self).__init__(func, end_subst=end_subst, operator='=', result='TRUE')
+    def __init__(self, func, **kwargs):
+        kwargs.setdefault('operator', '=')
+        kwargs.setdefault('result', 'TRUE')
+        kwargs.setdefault('end_subst', ") %s '%s'")
+        super(SDOOperation, self).__init__(func, **kwargs)
 
 class SDODistance(SpatialFunction):
     "Class for Distance queries."
@@ -55,12 +63,14 @@ class SDORelate(SpatialFunction):
 #### Lookup type mapping dictionaries of Oracle spatial operations ####
 
 # Valid distance types and substitutions
-dtypes = (Decimal, Distance, float, int)
+dtypes = (Decimal, Distance, float, int, long)
 DISTANCE_FUNCTIONS = {
     'distance_gt' : (SDODistance('>'), dtypes),
     'distance_gte' : (SDODistance('>='), dtypes),
     'distance_lt' : (SDODistance('<'), dtypes),
     'distance_lte' : (SDODistance('<='), dtypes),
+    'dwithin' : (SDOOperation('SDO_WITHIN_DISTANCE', 
+                              beg_subst="%s(%s, %%s, 'distance=%%s'"), dtypes),
     }
 
 ORACLE_GEOMETRY_FUNCTIONS = {
@@ -68,7 +78,6 @@ ORACLE_GEOMETRY_FUNCTIONS = {
     'coveredby' : SDOOperation('SDO_COVEREDBY'),
     'covers' : SDOOperation('SDO_COVERS'),
     'disjoint' : SDOGeomRelate('DISJOINT'),
-    'dwithin' : (SDOOperation('SDO_WITHIN_DISTANCE', end_subst=", %%s, 'distance=%%s') %s '%s'"), dtypes),
     'intersects' : SDOOperation('SDO_OVERLAPBDYINTERSECT'), # TODO: Is this really the same as ST_Intersects()?
     'equals' : SDOOperation('SDO_EQUAL'),
     'exact' : SDOOperation('SDO_EQUAL'),
@@ -89,10 +98,10 @@ ORACLE_SPATIAL_TERMS += MISC_TERMS
 ORACLE_SPATIAL_TERMS = tuple(ORACLE_SPATIAL_TERMS) # Making immutable
 
 #### The `get_geo_where_clause` function for Oracle ####
-def get_geo_where_clause(lookup_type, table_prefix, field_name, value):
+def get_geo_where_clause(lookup_type, table_prefix, field, value):
     "Returns the SQL WHERE clause for use in Oracle spatial SQL construction."
     # Getting the quoted table name as `geo_col`.
-    geo_col = '%s.%s' % (qn(table_prefix), qn(field_name))
+    geo_col = '%s.%s' % (qn(table_prefix), qn(field.column))
 
     # See if a Oracle Geometry function matches the lookup type next
     lookup_info = ORACLE_GEOMETRY_FUNCTIONS.get(lookup_type, False)
@@ -122,7 +131,7 @@ def get_geo_where_clause(lookup_type, table_prefix, field_name, value):
                 # Otherwise, just call the `as_sql` method on the SDOOperation instance.
                 return sdo_op.as_sql(geo_col)
         else:
-            # Lookup info is a SDOOperation instance, whos `as_sql` method returns
+            # Lookup info is a SDOOperation instance, whose `as_sql` method returns
             # the SQL necessary for the geometry function call. For example:  
             #  SDO_CONTAINS("geoapp_country"."poly", SDO_GEOMTRY('POINT(5 23)', 4326)) = 'TRUE'
             return lookup_info.as_sql(geo_col)
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/postgis/__init__.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/postgis/__init__.py
index 334b1197c4..e69de29bb2 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/postgis/__init__.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/postgis/__init__.py
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-"""
- The PostGIS spatial database backend module.
-"""
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.postgis.creation import create_spatial_db
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.postgis.field import PostGISField, gqn
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.postgis.query import \
-    get_geo_where_clause, GEOM_FUNC_PREFIX, POSTGIS_TERMS, \
-    MAJOR_VERSION, MINOR_VERSION1, MINOR_VERSION2, \
-    ASKML, ASGML, DISTANCE, EXTENT, GEOM_FROM_TEXT, UNION, TRANSFORM, GEOM_SELECT
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/postgis/field.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/postgis/field.py
index cb7efd5eaa..9e20a72eee 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/postgis/field.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/postgis/field.py
@@ -1,20 +1,11 @@
-from types import UnicodeType
 from django.db import connection
 from django.db.models.fields import Field # Django base Field class
 from django.contrib.gis.geos import GEOSGeometry
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.util import GeoFieldSQL
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.postgis.adaptor import PostGISAdaptor
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.postgis.query import \
-    DISTANCE_FUNCTIONS, POSTGIS_TERMS, TRANSFORM
+from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.util import gqn
+from django.contrib.gis.db.backend.postgis.query import TRANSFORM
 
 # Quotename & geographic quotename, respectively
 qn = connection.ops.quote_name
-def gqn(value):
-    if isinstance(value, basestring):
-        if isinstance(value, UnicodeType): value = value.encode('ascii')
-        return "'%s'" % value
-    else: 
-        return str(value)
 
 class PostGISField(Field):
     """
@@ -92,59 +83,14 @@ class PostGISField(Field):
         """
         return None
 
-    def get_db_prep_lookup(self, lookup_type, value):
-        """
-        Returns field's value prepared for database lookup, accepts WKT and 
-        GEOS Geometries for the value.
-        """
-        if lookup_type in POSTGIS_TERMS:
-            # special case for isnull lookup
-            if lookup_type == 'isnull': return GeoFieldSQL([], [])
-
-            # Get the geometry with SRID; defaults SRID to 
-            # that of the field if it is None.
-            geom = self.get_geometry(value)
-
-            # The adaptor will be used by psycopg2 for quoting the WKB.
-            adapt = PostGISAdaptor(geom)
-
-            if geom.srid != self._srid:
-                # Adding the necessary string substitutions and parameters
-                # to perform a geometry transformation.
-                where = ['%s(%%s,%%s)' % TRANSFORM]
-                params = [adapt, self._srid]
-            else:
-                # Otherwise, the adaptor will take care of everything.
-                where = ['%s']
-                params = [adapt]
-
-            if isinstance(value, tuple):
-                if lookup_type in DISTANCE_FUNCTIONS or lookup_type == 'dwithin':
-                    # Getting the distance parameter in the units of the field.
-                    where += [self.get_distance(value[1])]
-                else:
-                    where += map(gqn, value[1:])
-            return GeoFieldSQL(where, params)
-        else:
-            raise TypeError("Field has invalid lookup: %s" % lookup_type)
-
-
-    def get_db_prep_save(self, value):
-        "Prepares the value for saving in the database."
-        if not bool(value): return None
-        if isinstance(value, GEOSGeometry):
-            return PostGISAdaptor(value)
-        else:
-            raise TypeError('Geometry Proxy should only return GEOSGeometry objects.')
-
     def get_placeholder(self, value):
         """
         Provides a proper substitution value for Geometries that are not in the
         SRID of the field.  Specifically, this routine will substitute in the
         ST_Transform() function call.
         """
-        if isinstance(value, GEOSGeometry) and value.srid != self._srid:
+        if value is None or value.srid == self._srid:
+            return '%s'
+        else:
             # Adding Transform() to the SQL placeholder.
             return '%s(%%s, %s)' % (TRANSFORM, self._srid)
-        else:
-            return '%s'
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/postgis/query.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/postgis/query.py
index f920a8f7bc..1b8c3fa029 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/postgis/query.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/postgis/query.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ if MAJOR_VERSION >= 1:
     ASKML = get_func('AsKML')
     ASGML = get_func('AsGML')
     DISTANCE = get_func('Distance')
+    DISTANCE_SPHEROID = get_func('distance_spheroid')
     EXTENT = get_func('extent')
     GEOM_FROM_TEXT = get_func('GeomFromText')
     GEOM_FROM_WKB = get_func('GeomFromWKB')
@@ -74,8 +75,20 @@ class PostGISFunctionParam(PostGISFunction):
 
 class PostGISDistance(PostGISFunction):
     "For PostGIS distance operations."
+    dist_func = 'Distance'
     def __init__(self, operator):
-        super(PostGISDistance, self).__init__('Distance', end_subst=') %s %s', operator=operator, result='%%s')
+        super(PostGISDistance, self).__init__(self.dist_func, end_subst=') %s %s', 
+                                              operator=operator, result='%%s')
+
+class PostGISSphereDistance(PostGISFunction):
+    "For PostGIS spherical distance operations."
+    dist_func = 'distance_spheroid'
+    def __init__(self, operator):
+        # An extra parameter in `end_subst` is needed for the spheroid string.
+        super(PostGISSphereDistance, self).__init__(self.dist_func, 
+                                                    beg_subst='%s(%s, %%s, %%s', 
+                                                    end_subst=') %s %s',
+                                                    operator=operator, result='%%s')
 
 class PostGISRelate(PostGISFunctionParam):
     "For PostGIS Relate(<geom>, <pattern>) calls."
@@ -148,21 +161,24 @@ POSTGIS_GEOMETRY_FUNCTIONS = {
     }
 
 # Valid distance types and substitutions
-dtypes = (Decimal, Distance, float, int)
+dtypes = (Decimal, Distance, float, int, long)
+def get_dist_ops(operator):
+    "Returns operations for both regular and spherical distances."
+    return (PostGISDistance(operator), PostGISSphereDistance(operator))
 DISTANCE_FUNCTIONS = {
-    'distance_gt' : (PostGISDistance('>'), dtypes),
-    'distance_gte' : (PostGISDistance('>='), dtypes),
-    'distance_lt' : (PostGISDistance('<'), dtypes),
-    'distance_lte' : (PostGISDistance('<='), dtypes),
+    'distance_gt' : (get_dist_ops('>'), dtypes),
+    'distance_gte' : (get_dist_ops('>='), dtypes),
+    'distance_lt' : (get_dist_ops('<'), dtypes),
+    'distance_lte' : (get_dist_ops('<='), dtypes),
     }
 
 if GEOM_FUNC_PREFIX == 'ST_':
     # The ST_DWithin, ST_CoveredBy, and ST_Covers routines become available in 1.2.2+
     POSTGIS_GEOMETRY_FUNCTIONS.update(
-        {'dwithin' : (PostGISFunctionParam('DWithin'), dtypes),
-         'coveredby' : PostGISFunction('CoveredBy'),
+        {'coveredby' : PostGISFunction('CoveredBy'),
          'covers' : PostGISFunction('Covers'),
          })
+    DISTANCE_FUNCTIONS['dwithin'] = (PostGISFunctionParam('DWithin'), dtypes)
 
 # Distance functions are a part of PostGIS geometry functions.
 POSTGIS_GEOMETRY_FUNCTIONS.update(DISTANCE_FUNCTIONS)
@@ -178,10 +194,10 @@ POSTGIS_TERMS += MISC_TERMS # Adding any other miscellaneous terms (e.g., 'isnul
 POSTGIS_TERMS = tuple(POSTGIS_TERMS) # Making immutable
 
 #### The `get_geo_where_clause` function for PostGIS. ####
-def get_geo_where_clause(lookup_type, table_prefix, field_name, value):
+def get_geo_where_clause(lookup_type, table_prefix, field, value):
     "Returns the SQL WHERE clause for use in PostGIS SQL construction."
     # Getting the quoted field as `geo_col`.
-    geo_col = '%s.%s' % (qn(table_prefix), qn(field_name))
+    geo_col = '%s.%s' % (qn(table_prefix), qn(field.column))
     if lookup_type in POSTGIS_OPERATORS:
         # See if a PostGIS operator matches the lookup type.
         return POSTGIS_OPERATORS[lookup_type].as_sql(geo_col)
@@ -198,7 +214,7 @@ def get_geo_where_clause(lookup_type, table_prefix, field_name, value):
             op, arg_type = tmp
 
             # Ensuring that a tuple _value_ was passed in from the user
-            if not isinstance(value, tuple): 
+            if not isinstance(value, (tuple, list)): 
                 raise TypeError('Tuple required for `%s` lookup type.' % lookup_type)
             if len(value) != 2:
                 raise ValueError('2-element tuple required or `%s` lookup type.' % lookup_type)
@@ -209,7 +225,18 @@ def get_geo_where_clause(lookup_type, table_prefix, field_name, value):
 
             # For lookup type `relate`, the op instance is not yet created (has
             # to be instantiated here to check the pattern parameter).
-            if lookup_type == 'relate': op = op(value[1])
+            if lookup_type == 'relate': 
+                op = op(value[1])
+            elif lookup_type in DISTANCE_FUNCTIONS and lookup_type != 'dwithin':
+                if field._unit_name == 'degree':
+                    # Geodetic distances are only availble from Points to PointFields.
+                    if field._geom != 'POINT':
+                        raise TypeError('PostGIS spherical operations are only valid on PointFields.')
+                    if value[0].geom_typeid != 0:
+                        raise TypeError('PostGIS geometry distance parameter is required to be of type Point.')
+                    op = op[1]
+                else:
+                    op = op[0]
         else:
             op = tmp
         # Calling the `as_sql` function on the operation instance.
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/util.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/util.py
index 384fe4de02..a19dd975c1 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/util.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/backend/util.py
@@ -1,23 +1,16 @@
-class GeoFieldSQL(object):
-    """
-    Container for passing values to `parse_lookup` from the various
-    backend geometry fields.
-    """
-    def __init__(self, where=[], params=[]):
-        self.where = where
-        self.params = params
+from types import UnicodeType
 
-    def __str__(self):
-        return self.as_sql()
-
-    def as_sql(self, quote=False):
-        if not quote:
-            return self.where[0] % tuple(self.params)
-        else:
-            # Used for quoting WKT on certain backends.
-            tmp_params = ["'%s'" % self.params[0]]
-            tmp_params.extend(self.params[1:])
-            return self.where[0] % tuple(tmp_params)
+def gqn(val):
+    """
+    The geographic quote name function; used for quoting tables and 
+    geometries (they use single rather than the double quotes of the
+    backend quotename function).
+    """
+    if isinstance(val, basestring):
+        if isinstance(val, UnicodeType): val = val.encode('ascii')
+        return "'%s'" % val
+    else:
+        return str(val)
 
 class SpatialOperation(object):
     """
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/models/fields/__init__.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/models/fields/__init__.py
index a4eeb4f39a..50cccb1715 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/db/models/fields/__init__.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/models/fields/__init__.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 from decimal import Decimal
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.db import connection
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend import GeoBackendField # these depend on the spatial database backend.
+# Getting the SpatialBackend container and the geographic quoting method.
+from django.contrib.gis.db.backend import SpatialBackend, gqn
+# GeometryProxy, GEOS, Distance, and oldforms imports.
 from django.contrib.gis.db.models.proxy import GeometryProxy
 from django.contrib.gis.geos import GEOSException, GEOSGeometry
 from django.contrib.gis.measure import Distance
@@ -14,7 +16,7 @@ except NotImplementedError:
     SpatialRefSys = None
 
 #TODO: Flesh out widgets; consider adding support for OGR Geometry proxies.
-class GeometryField(GeoBackendField):
+class GeometryField(SpatialBackend.Field):
     "The base GIS field -- maps to the OpenGIS Specification Geometry type."
 
     # The OpenGIS Geometry name.
@@ -38,21 +40,19 @@ class GeometryField(GeoBackendField):
          The number of dimensions for this geometry.  Defaults to 2.
         """
 
-        # Backward-compatibility notice, this will disappear in future revisions.
-        if 'index' in kwargs:
-            from warnings import warn
-            warn('The `index` keyword has been deprecated, please use the `spatial_index` keyword instead.')
-            self._index = kwargs['index']
-        else:
-            self._index = spatial_index
+        # Setting the index flag with the value of the `spatial_index` keyword.
+        self._index = spatial_index
 
-        # Setting the SRID and getting the units.
+        # Setting the SRID and getting the units.  Unit information must be 
+        # easily available in the field instance for distance queries.
         self._srid = srid
         if SpatialRefSys:
-            # This doesn't work when we actually use: SpatialRefSys.objects.get(srid=srid)
+            # Getting the spatial reference WKT associated with the SRID from the
+            # `spatial_ref_sys` (or equivalent) spatial database table.
+            #
+            # The following doesn't work: SpatialRefSys.objects.get(srid=srid)
             # Why?  `syncdb` fails to recognize installed geographic models when there's
-            # an ORM query instantiated within a model field.  No matter, this works fine
-            # too.
+            # an ORM query instantiated within a model field.
             cur = connection.cursor()
             qn = connection.ops.quote_name
             stmt = 'SELECT %(table)s.%(wkt_col)s FROM %(table)s WHERE (%(table)s.%(srid_col)s = %(srid)s)'
@@ -62,27 +62,48 @@ class GeometryField(GeoBackendField):
                            'srid' : srid,
                            }
             cur.execute(stmt)
-            row = cur.fetchone()
-            self._unit, self._unit_name = SpatialRefSys.get_units(row[0])
+            srs_wkt = cur.fetchone()[0]
             
+            # Getting metadata associated with the spatial reference system identifier.
+            # Specifically, getting the unit information and spheroid information 
+            # (both required for distance queries).
+            self._unit, self._unit_name = SpatialRefSys.get_units(srs_wkt)
+            self._spheroid = SpatialRefSys.get_spheroid(srs_wkt)
+
         # Setting the dimension of the geometry field.
         self._dim = dim
+
         super(GeometryField, self).__init__(**kwargs) # Calling the parent initializtion function
 
     ### Routines specific to GeometryField ###
     def get_distance(self, dist):
+        """
+        Returns a distance number in units of the field.  For example, if 
+        `D(km=1)` was passed in and the units of the field were in meters,
+        then 1000 would be returned.
+        """
         if isinstance(dist, Distance):
-            return getattr(dist, Distance.unit_attname(self._unit_name))
-        elif isinstance(dist, (int, float, Decimal)):
+            if self._unit_name in ('Decimal Degree', 'degree'):
+                # Spherical distance calculation parameter should be in meters.
+                dist_param = dist.m
+            else:
+                dist_param = getattr(dist, Distance.unit_attname(self._unit_name))
+        else:
             # Assuming the distance is in the units of the field.
-            return dist
+            dist_param = dist
+
+        # Sphereical distance query; returning meters.
+        if SpatialBackend.name == 'postgis' and self._unit_name == 'degree':
+            return [gqn(self._spheroid), dist_param]
+        else:
+            return [dist_param]
 
     def get_geometry(self, value):
         """
         Retrieves the geometry, setting the default SRID from the given
         lookup parameters.
         """
-        if isinstance(value, tuple): 
+        if isinstance(value, (tuple, list)): 
             geom = value[0]
         else:
             geom = value
@@ -121,6 +142,49 @@ class GeometryField(GeoBackendField):
         # Setup for lazy-instantiated GEOSGeometry object.
         setattr(cls, self.attname, GeometryProxy(GEOSGeometry, self))
 
+    def get_db_prep_lookup(self, lookup_type, value):
+        """
+        Returns the spatial WHERE clause and associated parameters for the
+        given lookup type and value.  The value will be prepared for database
+        lookup (e.g., spatial transformation SQL will be added if necessary).
+        """
+        if lookup_type in SpatialBackend.gis_terms:
+            # special case for isnull lookup
+            if lookup_type == 'isnull': return [], []
+
+            # Get the geometry with SRID; defaults SRID to that of the field
+            # if it is None.
+            geom = self.get_geometry(value)
+
+            # Getting the WHERE clause list and the associated params list. The params 
+            # list is populated with the Adaptor wrapping the GEOSGeometry for the 
+            # backend.  The WHERE clause list contains the placeholder for the adaptor
+            # (e.g. any transformation SQL).
+            where = [self.get_placeholder(geom)]
+            params = [SpatialBackend.Adaptor(geom)]
+
+            if isinstance(value, (tuple, list)):
+                if lookup_type in SpatialBackend.distance_functions:
+                    # Getting the distance parameter in the units of the field.
+                    where += self.get_distance(value[1])
+                elif lookup_type in SpatialBackend.limited_where:
+                    pass
+                else:
+                    # Otherwise, making sure any other parameters are properly quoted.
+                    where += map(gqn, value[1:])
+            return where, params
+        else:
+            raise TypeError("Field has invalid lookup: %s" % lookup_type)
+
+    def get_db_prep_save(self, value):
+        "Prepares the value for saving in the database."
+        if isinstance(value, GEOSGeometry):
+            return SpatialBackend.Adaptor(value)
+        elif value is None:
+            return None
+        else:
+            raise TypeError('Geometry Proxy should only return GEOSGeometry objects or None.')
+
     def get_manipulator_field_objs(self):
         "Using the WKTField (defined above) to be our manipulator."
         return [WKTField]
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/models/query.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/models/query.py
index 3e909c1c3b..c9fa8decf3 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/db/models/query.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/models/query.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from django.db.models.fields import FieldDoesNotExist
 from django.utils.datastructures import SortedDict
 from django.contrib.gis.db.models.fields import GeometryField
 # parse_lookup depends on the spatial database backend.
-from django.contrib.gis.db.backend import parse_lookup, SpatialBackend
+from django.contrib.gis.db.backend import gqn, parse_lookup, SpatialBackend
 from django.contrib.gis.geos import GEOSGeometry
 
 # Shortcut booleans for determining the backend.
@@ -233,25 +233,20 @@ class GeoQuerySet(QuerySet):
         return "%s.%s" % (qn(self.model._meta.db_table),
                           qn(field.column))
 
-    def _geo_column(self, field_name):
+    def _geo_field(self, field_name=None):
         """
-        Helper function that returns False when the given field name is not an
-        instance of a GeographicField, otherwise, the database column for the
-        geographic field is returned.
+        Returns the first Geometry field encountered; or specified via the 
+        `field_name` keyword.
         """
-        field = self.model._meta.get_field(field_name)
-        if isinstance(field, GeometryField):
-            return self._field_column(field)
-        else:
-            return False
-
-    def _get_geofield(self):
-        "Returns the name of the first Geometry field encountered."
         for field in self.model._meta.fields:
             if isinstance(field, GeometryField): 
-                return field.name
-        raise Exception('No GeometryFields in the model.')
-
+                fname = field.name
+                if field_name:
+                    if field_name == field.name: return field
+                else:
+                    return field
+        raise False
+        
     def distance(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """
         Returns the distance from the given geographic field name to the
@@ -266,7 +261,7 @@ class GeoQuerySet(QuerySet):
         # calculations from.
         nargs = len(args)
         if nargs == 1:
-            field_name = self._get_geofield()
+            field_name = None
             geom = args[0]
         elif nargs == 2:
             field_name, geom = args
@@ -274,29 +269,33 @@ class GeoQuerySet(QuerySet):
             raise ValueError('Maximum two arguments allowed for `distance` aggregate.')
 
         # Getting the quoted column.
-        field_col = self._geo_column(field_name)
-        if not field_col:
+        geo_field = self._geo_field(field_name)
+        if not geo_field:
             raise TypeError('Distance output only available on GeometryFields.')
+        geo_col = self._field_column(geo_field)
 
-        # Getting the geographic field instance.
-        geo_field = self.model._meta.get_field(field_name)
-
-        # Using the field's get_db_prep_lookup() to get any needed 
-        # transformation SQL -- we pass in a 'dummy' `contains` lookup
-        # type.
-        geom_sql = geo_field.get_db_prep_lookup('contains', geom)
+        # Using the field's get_db_prep_lookup() to get any needed
+        # transformation and distance SQL -- we pass in a 'dummy' 
+        # `distance_lte` lookup type.
+        where, params = geo_field.get_db_prep_lookup('distance_lte', (geom, 0))
         if oracle:
             # The `tolerance` keyword may be used for Oracle.
             tolerance = kwargs.get('tolerance', 0.05)
 
             # More legwork here because the OracleSpatialAdaptor doesn't do
             # quoting of the WKT.
-            params = ["'%s'" % geom_sql.params[0]]
-            params.extend(geom_sql.params[1:])
-            gsql = geom_sql.where[0] % tuple(params)
-            dist_select = {'distance' : '%s(%s, %s, %s)' % (DISTANCE, field_col, gsql, tolerance)}
+            tmp_params = [gqn(str(params[0]))]
+            tmp_params.extend(params[1:])
+            dsql = where[0] % tuple(tmp_params)
+            dist_select = {'distance' : '%s(%s, %s, %s)' % (DISTANCE, geo_col, dsql, tolerance)}
         else:
-            dist_select = {'distance' : '%s(%s, %s)' % (DISTANCE, field_col, geom_sql)}
+            dsql = where[0] % tuple(params)
+            if len(where) == 3:
+                # Call to distance_spheroid() requires the spheroid as well.
+                dist_sql = '%s(%s, %s, %s)' % (SpatialBackend.distance_spheroid, geo_col, dsql, where[1])
+            else:
+                dist_sql = '%s(%s, %s)' % (DISTANCE, geo_col, dsql)
+            dist_select = {'distance' : dist_sql}
         return self.extra(select=dist_select)
 
     def extent(self, field_name=None):
@@ -308,12 +307,10 @@ class GeoQuerySet(QuerySet):
         if not EXTENT:
             raise ImproperlyConfigured('Extent stored procedure not available.')
 
-        if not field_name:
-            field_name = self._get_geofield()
-
-        field_col = self._geo_column(field_name)
-        if not field_col:
+        geo_field = self._geo_field(field_name)
+        if not geo_field:
             raise TypeError('Extent information only available on GeometryFields.')
+        geo_col = self._field_column(geo_field)
 
         # Getting the SQL for the query.
         try:
@@ -322,7 +319,7 @@ class GeoQuerySet(QuerySet):
             return None
         
         # Constructing the query that will select the extent.
-        extent_sql = ('SELECT %s(%s)' % (EXTENT, field_col)) + sql
+        extent_sql = ('SELECT %s(%s)' % (EXTENT, geo_col)) + sql
 
         # Getting a cursor, executing the query, and extracting the returned
         # value from the extent function.
@@ -353,23 +350,21 @@ class GeoQuerySet(QuerySet):
 
         # If no field name explicitly given, get the first GeometryField from
         # the model.
-        if not field_name:
-            field_name = self._get_geofield()
-
-        field_col = self._geo_column(field_name)
-        if not field_col:
+        geo_field = self._geo_field(field_name)
+        if not geo_field:
             raise TypeError('GML output only available on GeometryFields.')
-        
+        geo_col = self._field_column(geo_field)
+
         if oracle:
-            gml_select = {'gml':'%s(%s)' % (ASGML, field_col)}
+            gml_select = {'gml':'%s(%s)' % (ASGML, geo_col)}
         elif postgis:
             # PostGIS AsGML() aggregate function parameter order depends on the
             # version -- uggh.
             major, minor1, minor2 = SpatialBackend.version
             if major >= 1 and (minor1 > 3 or (minor1 == 3 and minor2 > 1)):
-                gml_select = {'gml':'%s(%s,%s,%s)' % (ASGML, version, field_col, precision)}
+                gml_select = {'gml':'%s(%s,%s,%s)' % (ASGML, version, geo_col, precision)}
             else:
-                gml_select = {'gml':'%s(%s,%s,%s)' % (ASGML, field_col, precision, version)}
+                gml_select = {'gml':'%s(%s,%s,%s)' % (ASGML, geo_col, precision, version)}
 
         # Adding GML function call to SELECT part of the SQL.
         return self.extra(select=gml_select)
@@ -385,48 +380,49 @@ class GeoQuerySet(QuerySet):
             raise ImproperlyConfigured('AsKML() stored procedure not available.')
 
         # Getting the geographic field.
-        if not field_name:
-            field_name = self._get_geofield()
-
-        field_col = self._geo_column(field_name)
-        if not field_col:
+        geo_field = self._geo_field(field_name)
+        if not geo_field:
             raise TypeError('KML output only available on GeometryFields.')
-        
+        geo_col = self._field_column(geo_field)
+
         # Adding the AsKML function call to SELECT part of the SQL.
-        return self.extra(select={'kml':'%s(%s,%s)' % (ASKML, field_col, precision)})
+        return self.extra(select={'kml':'%s(%s,%s)' % (ASKML, geo_col, precision)})
 
     def transform(self, field_name=None, srid=4326):
         """
         Transforms the given geometry field to the given SRID.  If no SRID is
         provided, the transformation will default to using 4326 (WGS84).
         """
-        # Getting the geographic field.
-        if not field_name:
-            field_name = self._get_geofield()
-        elif isinstance(field_name, int):
-            srid = field_name
-            field_name = self._get_geofield()
+        TRANSFORM = SpatialBackend.transform
+        if not TRANSFORM:
+            raise ImproperlyConfigured('Transform stored procedure not available.')
 
-        field = self.model._meta.get_field(field_name)
-        if not isinstance(field, GeometryField):
+        # `field_name` is first for backwards compatibility; but we want to
+        # be able to take integer srid as first parameter.
+        if isinstance(field_name, (int, long)):
+            srid = field_name
+            field_name = None
+        
+        # Getting the geographic field.
+        geo_field = self._geo_field(field_name)
+        if not geo_field:
             raise TypeError('%s() only available for GeometryFields' % TRANSFORM)
 
         # Why cascading substitutions? Because spatial backends like
         # Oracle and MySQL already require a function call to convert to text, thus
         # when there's also a transformation we need to cascade the substitutions.
         # For example, 'SDO_UTIL.TO_WKTGEOMETRY(SDO_CS.TRANSFORM( ... )'
-        col = self._custom_select.get(field.column, self._field_column(field))
+        geo_col = self._custom_select.get(geo_field.column, self._field_column(geo_field))
 
         # Setting the key for the field's column with the custom SELECT SQL to 
         # override the geometry column returned from the database.
-        TRANSFORM = SpatialBackend.transform
         if oracle:
-            custom_sel = '%s(%s, %s)' % (TRANSFORM, col, srid)
+            custom_sel = '%s(%s, %s)' % (TRANSFORM, geo_col, srid)
             self._ewkt = srid
         else:
             custom_sel = '(%s(%s, %s)) AS %s' % \
-                         (TRANSFORM, col, srid, connection.ops.quote_name(field.column))
-        self._custom_select[field.column] = custom_sel
+                         (TRANSFORM, geo_col, srid, connection.ops.quote_name(geo_field.column))
+        self._custom_select[geo_field.column] = custom_sel
         return self._clone()
 
     def union(self, field_name=None, tolerance=0.0005):
@@ -441,12 +437,10 @@ class GeoQuerySet(QuerySet):
             raise ImproperlyConfigured('Union stored procedure not available.')
 
         # Getting the geographic field column
-        if not field_name:
-            field_name = self._get_geofield()
-
-        field_col = self._geo_column(field_name)
-        if not field_col:
+        geo_field = self._geo_field(field_name)
+        if not geo_field:
             raise TypeError('Aggregate Union only available on GeometryFields.')
+        geo_col = self._field_column(geo_field)
 
         # Getting the SQL for the query.
         try:
@@ -458,10 +452,10 @@ class GeoQuerySet(QuerySet):
         #  on the geographic field column.
         if oracle:
             union_sql = 'SELECT %s' % self._geo_fmt
-            union_sql = union_sql % ('%s(SDOAGGRTYPE(%s,%s))' % (UNION, field_col, tolerance))
+            union_sql = union_sql % ('%s(SDOAGGRTYPE(%s,%s))' % (UNION, geo_col, tolerance))
             union_sql += sql
         else:
-            union_sql = ('SELECT %s(%s)' % (UNION, field_col)) + sql
+            union_sql = ('SELECT %s(%s)' % (UNION, geo_col)) + sql
 
         # Getting a cursor, executing the query.
         cursor = connection.cursor()
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/models.py b/django/contrib/gis/models.py
index 233943dcbc..fc0de5fa58 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/models.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/models.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class SpatialRefSysMixin(object):
     #  TODO: Flattening not used in all ellipsoids, could also be a minor axis, or 'b'
     #        parameter.
     spheroid_regex = re.compile(r'.+SPHEROID\[\"(?P<name>.+)\",(?P<major>\d+(\.\d+)?),(?P<flattening>\d{3}\.\d+),')
-    
+
     # For pulling out the units on platforms w/o GDAL installed.
     # TODO: Figure out how to pull out angular units of projected coordinate system and
     # fix for LOCAL_CS types.  GDAL should be highly recommended for performing 
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ class SpatialRefSysMixin(object):
 
     @property
     def spheroid(self):
-        "Returns the spheroid for this spatial reference."
+        "Returns the spheroid name for this spatial reference."
         return self.srs['spheroid']
 
     @property
@@ -170,6 +170,34 @@ class SpatialRefSysMixin(object):
             m = cls.units_regex.match(wkt)
             return m.group('unit'), m.group('unit_name')
 
+    @classmethod
+    def get_spheroid(cls, wkt, string=True):
+        """
+        Class method used by GeometryField on initialization to
+        retrieve the `SPHEROID[..]` parameters from the given WKT.
+        """
+        if HAS_GDAL:
+            srs = SpatialReference(wkt)
+            sphere_params = srs.ellipsoid
+            sphere_name = srs['spheroid']
+        else:
+            m = cls.spheroid_regex.match(wkt)
+            if m: 
+                sphere_params = (float(m.group('major')), float(m.group('flattening')))
+                sphere_name = m.group('name')
+            else: 
+                return None
+        
+        if not string: 
+            return sphere_name, sphere_params
+        else:
+            # `string` parameter used to place in format acceptable by PostGIS
+            if len(sphere_params) == 3:
+                radius, flattening = sphere_params[0], sphere_params[2]
+            else:
+                radius, flattening = sphere_params
+            return 'SPHEROID["%s",%s,%s]' % (sphere_name, radius, flattening) 
+
     def __unicode__(self):
         """
         Returns the string representation.  If GDAL is installed,
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/cities/cities.dbf b/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/cities/cities.dbf
deleted file mode 100644
index 660def3214..0000000000
Binary files a/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/cities/cities.dbf and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/cities/cities.prj b/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/cities/cities.prj
deleted file mode 100644
index c591448279..0000000000
--- a/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/cities/cities.prj
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-PROJCS["NAD83 / Texas South Central",GEOGCS["GCS_North_American_1983",DATUM["D_North_American_1983",SPHEROID["GRS_1980",6378137,298.257222101]],PRIMEM["Greenwich",0],UNIT["Degree",0.017453292519943295]],PROJECTION["Lambert_Conformal_Conic"],PARAMETER["standard_parallel_1",30.28333333333334],PARAMETER["standard_parallel_2",28.38333333333333],PARAMETER["latitude_of_origin",27.83333333333333],PARAMETER["central_meridian",-99],PARAMETER["false_easting",600000],PARAMETER["false_northing",4000000],UNIT["Meter",1]]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/cities/cities.shp b/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/cities/cities.shp
deleted file mode 100644
index 2b0b42f7f1..0000000000
Binary files a/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/cities/cities.shp and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/cities/cities.shx b/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/cities/cities.shx
deleted file mode 100644
index 9189d9ee7c..0000000000
Binary files a/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/cities/cities.shx and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/data.py b/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/data.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..94b28abc4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/data.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+au_cities = (('Wollongong', 150.902, -34.4245),
+             ('Shellharbour', 150.87, -34.5789),
+             ('Thirroul', 150.924, -34.3147),
+             ('Mittagong', 150.449, -34.4509),
+             ('Batemans Bay', 150.175, -35.7082),
+             ('Canberra', 144.963, -37.8143),
+             ('Melbourne', 145.963, -37.8143),
+             ('Sydney', 151.26071, -33.887034),
+             ('Hobart', 147.33, -42.8827),
+             ('Adelaide', 138.6, -34.9258),
+             )
+
+stx_cities = (('Downtown Houston', 951640.547328, 4219369.26172),
+              ('West University Place', 943547.922328, 4213623.65345),
+              ('Southside Place', 944704.643307, 4212768.87617),
+              ('Bellaire', 942595.669129, 4212686.72583),
+              ('Pearland', 959674.616506, 4197465.6526),
+              ('Galveston', 1008151.16007, 4170027.47655),
+              ('Sealy', 874859.286808, 4219186.8641),
+              ('San Antonio', 649173.910483, 4176413.27786),
+              ('Round Rock', 726846.03695, 4297160.99715),
+              ('Saint Hedwig', 677644.649952, 4175467.06744),
+              )
+
+
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/models.py b/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/models.py
index 161fec9d56..836b769e61 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/models.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/models.py
@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
 from django.contrib.gis.db import models
 
-class City(models.Model):
+class SouthTexasCity(models.Model):
+    "City model on projected coordinate system for South Texas."
     name = models.CharField(max_length=30)
     point = models.PointField(srid=32140)
     objects = models.GeoManager()
     def __unicode__(self): return self.name
 
+class AustraliaCity(models.Model):
+    "City model for Australia, using WGS84."
+    name = models.CharField(max_length=30)
+    point = models.PointField()
+    objects = models.GeoManager()
+    def __unicode__(self): return self.name
+
 #class County(models.Model):
 #    name = models.CharField(max_length=30)
 #    mpoly = models.MultiPolygonField(srid=32140)
 #    objects = models.GeoManager()
-
-city_mapping = {'name' : 'Name',
-                'point' : 'POINT',
-                }
-
-#county_mapping = {'name' : 'Name',
-#                  'mpoly' : 'MULTIPOLYGON',
-#                  }
diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/tests.py b/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/tests.py
index f407e50c7a..187d30e52b 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/tests.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/tests/distapp/tests.py
@@ -1,53 +1,68 @@
 import os, unittest
 from decimal import Decimal
-from models import *
-from django.contrib.gis.utils import LayerMapping
+
 from django.contrib.gis.gdal import DataSource
-from django.contrib.gis.geos import GEOSGeometry
+from django.contrib.gis.geos import GEOSGeometry, Point
 from django.contrib.gis.measure import D # alias for Distance
+from django.contrib.gis.db.models import GeoQ
 from django.contrib.gis.tests.utils import oracle
 
-shp_path = os.path.dirname(__file__)
-city_shp = os.path.join(shp_path, 'cities/cities.shp')
-#county_shp = os.path.join(shp_path, 'counties/counties.shp')
+from models import SouthTexasCity, AustraliaCity
+from data import au_cities, stx_cities
 
 class DistanceTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
+    # A point we are testing distances with -- using a WGS84
+    # coordinate that'll be implicitly transormed to that to
+    # the coordinate system of the field, EPSG:32140 (Texas South Central
+    # w/units in meters)
+    stx_pnt = GEOSGeometry('POINT (-95.370401017314293 29.704867409475465)', 4326)
+    
+    def get_cities(self, qs):
+        cities = [c.name for c in qs]
+        cities.sort()
+        return cities
+
     def test01_init(self):
-        "LayerMapping initialization of distance models."
+        "Initialization of distance models."
         
-        city_lm = LayerMapping(City, city_shp, city_mapping, transform=False)
-        city_lm.save()
-
-        # TODO: complete tests with distance from multipolygons.
-        #county_lm = LayerMapping(County, county_shp, county_mapping, transform=False)
-        #county_lm.save()
+        def load_cities(city_model, srid, data_tup):
+            for name, x, y in data_tup:
+                c = city_model(name=name, point=Point(x, y, srid=srid))
+                c.save()
         
-        self.assertEqual(12, City.objects.count())
-        #self.assertEqual(60, County.objects.count())
+        load_cities(SouthTexasCity, 32140, stx_cities)
+        load_cities(AustraliaCity, 4326, au_cities)
 
-    # TODO: Complete tests for `dwithin` lookups.
-    #def test02_dwithin(self):
-    #    "Testing the `dwithin` lookup type."
-    #    pass
+        self.assertEqual(10, SouthTexasCity.objects.count())
+        self.assertEqual(10, AustraliaCity.objects.count())
+
+    def test02_dwithin(self):
+        "Testing the `dwithin` lookup type."
+        pnt = self.stx_pnt
+        dists = [7000, D(km=7), D(mi=4.349)]
+        for dist in dists:
+            qs = SouthTexasCity.objects.filter(point__dwithin=(self.stx_pnt, dist))
+            cities = self.get_cities(qs)
+            self.assertEqual(cities, ['Downtown Houston', 'Southside Place'])
 
     def test03_distance_aggregate(self):
         "Testing the `distance` GeoQuerySet method."
         # The point for La Grange, TX
         lagrange = GEOSGeometry('POINT(-96.876369 29.905320)', 4326)
         # Got these from using the raw SQL statement:
-        #  SELECT ST_Distance(point, ST_Transform(ST_GeomFromText('POINT(-96.876369 29.905320)', 4326),32140)) FROM distapp_city;
-        distances = [147075.069813436, 139630.198056286, 140888.552826286,
-                     138809.684197415, 158309.246259353, 212183.594374882,
-                     70870.1889675217, 319225.965633536, 165337.758878256,
-                     92630.7446925393, 102128.654360872, 139196.085105372]
-        dist1 = City.objects.distance('point', lagrange)
-        dist2 = City.objects.distance(lagrange)
+        #  SELECT ST_Distance(point, ST_Transform(ST_GeomFromText('POINT(-96.876369 29.905320)', 4326),32140)) FROM distapp_southtexascity;
+        distances = [147075.069813, 139630.198056, 140888.552826,
+                     138809.684197, 158309.246259, 212183.594374,
+                     70870.188967, 165337.758878, 102128.654360, 
+                     139196.085105]
+        dist1 = SouthTexasCity.objects.distance('point', lagrange)
+        dist2 = SouthTexasCity.objects.distance(lagrange)
 
         # Original query done on PostGIS, have to adjust AlmostEqual tolerance
         # for Oracle.
         if oracle: tol = 3
-        else: tol = 7
+        else: tol = 5
 
         for qs in [dist1, dist2]:
             for i, c in enumerate(qs):
@@ -55,30 +70,50 @@ class DistanceTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test04_distance_lookups(self):
         "Testing the `distance_lt`, `distance_gt`, `distance_lte`, and `distance_gte` lookup types."
-        # The point we are testing distances with -- using a WGS84
-        # coordinate that'll be implicitly transormed to that to
-        # the coordinate system of the field, EPSG:32140 (Texas South Central
-        # w/units in meters)
-        pnt = GEOSGeometry('POINT (-95.370401017314293 29.704867409475465)', 4326)
-
         # Only two cities (Houston and Southside Place) should be
         # within 7km of the given point.
-        qs1 = City.objects.filter(point__distance_lte=(pnt, D(km=7))) # Query w/Distance instance.
-        qs2 = City.objects.filter(point__distance_lte=(pnt, 7000)) # Query w/int (units are assumed to be that of the field)
-        qs3 = City.objects.filter(point__distance_lte=(pnt, 7000.0)) # Query w/float
-        qs4 = City.objects.filter(point__distance_lte=(pnt, Decimal(7000))) # Query w/Decimal
+        dists = [D(km=7), D(mi=4.349), # Distance instances in different units.
+                 7000, 7000.0, Decimal(7000), # int, float, Decimal parameters.
+                 ]
 
-        for qs in [qs1, qs2, qs3, qs4]:
+        for dist in dists:
+            qs = SouthTexasCity.objects.filter(point__dwithin=(self.stx_pnt, dist))
             for c in qs:
-                self.assertEqual(2, qs.count())
-                self.failIf(not c.name in ['Downtown Houston', 'Southside Place'])
+                cities = self.get_cities(qs)
+                self.assertEqual(cities, ['Downtown Houston', 'Southside Place'])
 
         # Now only retrieving the cities within a 20km 'donut' w/a 7km radius 'hole'
         # (thus, Houston and Southside place will be excluded)
-        qs = City.objects.filter(point__distance_gte=(pnt, D(km=7))).filter(point__distance_lte=(pnt, D(km=20)))
-        self.assertEqual(3, qs.count())
-        for c in qs:
-            self.failIf(not c.name in ['Pearland', 'Bellaire', 'West University Place'])
+        qs = SouthTexasCity.objects.filter(point__distance_gte=(self.stx_pnt, D(km=7))).filter(point__distance_lte=(self.stx_pnt, D(km=20)))
+        cities = self.get_cities(qs)
+        self.assertEqual(cities, ['Bellaire', 'Pearland', 'West University Place'])
+
+    def test05_geodetic_distance(self):
+        "Testing distance lookups on geodetic coordinate systems."
+        
+        if not oracle:
+            # Oracle doesn't have this limitation -- PostGIS only allows geodetic
+            # distance queries from Points to PointFields.
+            mp = GEOSGeometry('MULTIPOINT(0 0, 5 23)')
+            self.assertRaises(TypeError,
+                              AustraliaCity.objects.filter(point__distance_lte=(mp, D(km=100))))
+            
+        hobart = AustraliaCity.objects.get(name='Hobart')
+        
+        # Getting all cities w/in 550 miles of Hobart.
+        qs = AustraliaCity.objects.exclude(name='Hobart').filter(point__distance_lte=(hobart.point, D(mi=550)))
+        cities = self.get_cities(qs)
+        self.assertEqual(cities, ['Batemans Bay', 'Canberra', 'Melbourne'])
+
+        # Cities that are either really close or really far from Wollongong --
+        # and using different units of distance.
+        wollongong = AustraliaCity.objects.get(name='Wollongong')
+        gq1 = GeoQ(point__distance_lte=(wollongong.point, D(yd=19500))) # Yards (~17km)
+        gq2 = GeoQ(point__distance_gte=(wollongong.point, D(nm=400)))   # Nautical Miles
+        qs = AustraliaCity.objects.exclude(name='Wollongong').filter(gq1 | gq2)
+        cities = self.get_cities(qs)
+        self.assertEqual(cities, ['Adelaide', 'Hobart', 'Shellharbour', 'Thirroul'])
+
 
 def suite():
     s = unittest.TestSuite()