diff --git a/config/settings/database.py b/config/settings/database.py
index c1cf8825..8a0f6ee0 100644
--- a/config/settings/database.py
+++ b/config/settings/database.py
@@ -7,8 +7,12 @@ import environ
 env = environ.Env()
 
 # Database configuration
+db_config = env.db()
+# Force PostGIS backend for spatial data support
+db_config['ENGINE'] = 'django.contrib.gis.db.backends.postgis'
+
 DATABASES = {
-    'default': env.db(),
+    'default': db_config,
 }
 
 # GeoDjango Settings - Environment specific
@@ -20,6 +24,7 @@ CACHES = {
     'default': env.cache('CACHE_URL', default='locmemcache://')
 }
 
-CACHE_MIDDLEWARE_SECONDS = env.int('CACHE_MIDDLEWARE_SECONDS', default=300)  # 5 minutes
-CACHE_MIDDLEWARE_KEY_PREFIX = env('CACHE_MIDDLEWARE_KEY_PREFIX', default='thrillwiki')
-
+CACHE_MIDDLEWARE_SECONDS = env.int(
+    'CACHE_MIDDLEWARE_SECONDS', default=300)  # 5 minutes
+CACHE_MIDDLEWARE_KEY_PREFIX = env(
+    'CACHE_MIDDLEWARE_KEY_PREFIX', default='thrillwiki')