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Beginning Spatial with SQL Server 2008 |  | Author: Alastair Aitchison
Publisher: Apress
Category: Book
List Price: $49.99
Buy New: $39.08
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Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 60832
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Pages: 456
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.9 x 1
ISBN: 1430218290
Dewey Decimal Number: 005
EAN: 9781430218296
ASIN: 1430218290
Publication Date: January 21, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | ISBN13: 9781430218296 | | • | Condition: NEW | | • | Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark. |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 introduces new geography and geometry spatial datatypes that enable the storage of structured data describing the shape and position of objects in space. This is an interesting and exciting new feature, with many potentially useful applications. Beginning Spatial with SQL Server 2008 covers everything you need to know to begin using these new spatial datatypes, and explains how to apply them in practical situations involving the spatial relationships of people, places, and things on the earth. - All of the spatial concepts introduced are explained from the ground up, so you need not have any previous knowledge of working with spatial data.
- Every section is illustrated with code examples that you can use directly in SQL Server.
- All of the topics covered in this book apply to all versions of SQL Server 2008, including the freely available SQL Server 2008 Express.
What you’ll learn - Understand the fundamental concepts involved in working with spatial data, including spatial references and coordinate systems.
- Apply these concepts in the collection and storage of spatial data in SQL Server 2008, using the new geometry and geography field types.
- Create different types of spatial data objects—points, lines, and polygons—and use these to describe real–world objects.
- Learn how to analyze spatial data using a range of supported methods, and be aware of a number of different practical applications for these methods.
- Be shown how to integrate SQL Server with other tools, such as Microsoft Virtual Earth, to display a visual representation of spatial data.
- Know how to ensure the performance of spatially enabled databases by creating appropriate spatial indexes.
Who is this book for? SQL Server developers who wish to use spatial data in Microsoft SQL Server 2008. About the Apress Beginning Series The Beginning series from Apress is the right choice to get the information you need to land that crucial entry–level job. These books will teach you a standard and important technology from the ground up because they are explicitly designed to take you from “novice to professional.” You’ll start your journey by seeing what you need to know—but without needless theory and filler. You’ll build your skill set by learning how to put together real–world projects step by step. So whether your goal is your next career challenge or a new learning opportunity, the Beginning series from Apress will take you there—it is your trusted guide through unfamiliar territory!
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| Customer Reviews:
Geospatial Data for the Masses! January 2, 2010
Michael Coles (New Jersey, USA)
Author Alastair Aitchison's book, "Beginning Spatial with SQL Server 2008" is the best introduction to the topic of SQL spatial data you can find. With fully functional examples the author demonstrates his complete mastery of the subject matter. Alastair makes designing databases to store geospatial data -- dare I say it? -- fun! From the beginning of the book the author assumes no knowledge of Geospatial Information Systems. In chapter 1, for instance, he describes the basics of all geospatial reference systems in simple and clear language. Take this quote from Chapter 1:
"...the earth is still not a regular shape. In fact, it is so unique that geophysicists have a specific word solely used to describe the shape of the earth--the geoid."
Alastair lays a foundation with simple definitions like this one, that he then builds on to explain even more complex concepts like "reference ellipsoids", "datum", and "projection", to name a few. Beginning with chapter 2 the author discusses the SQL Server 2008 geometry and geography data types in great detail. Alastair discusses the power of the spatial data types and he gives you insight into the limitations and "implementation quirks" of the different types. Consider the ring orientation limitation of polygons defined using the geography data type:
"To resolve this ambiguity [defining the inside of a polygon], when you define the points of a Polygon using the geography datatype, SQL Server 2008 treats the area on the 'left' of the path drawn between the points of a ring as being contained within the interior of the Polygon, and excludes any points that lie on the 'right' side of the ring."
Alastair excels at framing complex problems in simple terms that beginners can understand, and then building increasingly advanced and fully functional code samples. This book is a powerful reference that I keep nearby at all times. I only hope Alastair follows up with an advanced level book to share his knowledge of the more complex and complicated tasks that can be performed with geospatial databases.
Review Of Beginning Spatial With SQL Server 2008 June 15, 2009
Denis Gobo (Princeton, NJ USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I will just start of by saying that this is a truly awesome book. Although I have tinkered a little with the new geospatial capabilities in a blog post, I did not really understand or know that there were some many nuances and things that you had to be careful about.
Did you know that there are different map projections? This book will show you the differences between the Hammer-Aitoff map projection, the Mercator map projection and the equirectangular map projection. You will also learn what the different spatial reference systems that SQL server 2008 supports are.
If you are a SQL server developer and you have to incorporate some spatial data on your website or perhaps on your intranet then this is the book for you. The book is written in a casual style, things that might seem complicated at first are explained thoroughly over several pages. There are many images in this book (we all know that an image is a thousand words) which really help explain concepts. There are links in this book that point to great resources.
I highly recommend this book if you want to learn about spatial data in SQL Server 2008. You will not be disappointed!
Intersect your Spatial Data With This Book May 6, 2009
Geoffery Emery (Los Angeles)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Great Book to start Your Learning off right!
The 14 chapters that comprise Robin's book represent the first of four stages that take the novice developer through to the highest level of database development using Microsoft's flagship SQL Server 2008 product. A suitable target audience might well include degree-level students wishing to progress beyond the world of Microsoft Access or those working as entry-level technicians in a commercial or other organisational environment.
Written by an author experienced in database application development, the book exudes an obvious love and enthusiasm for the subject and with a realistic eye on expectations, aims to strike a balance between generic and product-specific database usage details and attains a reasonable state of success in doing so.
The book is easy to navigate and read and does indeed do what it says on the tin in terms of providing a quick and efficient path towards proficiency in SQL Server 2008.
This author targeted the book because of its intention to take the SQL novice to a reasonable level of competence and in that sense, the text achieves its aims albeit with some technical distractions along the way which has affected the outcome of this review.
Installation of the example database (the trial version of the enterprise edition) was not without its problems using one of the recommended platforms but the same issues were encountered with the express version - both available from Microsoft's web-site.
Fantastic Introduction April 17, 2009
Grant Fritchey (MA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
When I started reading Alastair Aitchison's book on Beginning Spatial with SQL Server 2008 I thought to myself, "Wow, I'm glad this is the beginning book." The concepts that make up spatial data and the means necessary to store and retrieve this data from your SQL Server database are quite difficult. Luckily Mr. Aitchison has written this book. I've just read the entire thing, running most of the samples. My copy has a number of post-it flags hanging out all over the place on topics that I want to re-explore or explore in more depth. I'm already planning on handing this off to co-workers so that they can learn the basics of working with spatial data as well.
The book is very clearly written. All the examples I tried worked. As I said before, Mr. Aitchison does a great job of explaining very difficult concepts so that even someone completely new to the topic will understand. That's the goal of a beginners book and it is very well met.
Now I want to see Intermediate Spatial please?
Awesome book on working with Spatial Data in SQL 2008 April 7, 2009
Chris Pietschmann (Wisconsin)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is the only book that is dedicated to SQL Spatial in SQL Server 2008. It covers everything you need to know when working with Spatial Data. I definitely recommend this book to anyone working with spatial data using SQL Server!
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