The amount of spatial data captured in databases is increasing exponentially. This includes data from mobile phones, GPS units through to home detention bracelets used for home arrests. Typically these devices capture information such as latitudes and longitudes. The spatial capabilities of SQL Server has been significantly enhanced with the release of Microsoft SQL Server 2012. SQL 2012 now has some of the best spatial functionality of all the mainstream databases. Spatial queries use different syntax to the traditional T-SQL that traditional queries use. This tutorial will provide an introduction to creating spatial queries that perform tasks such as
- Viewing shapes within SQL Server.
- Calculating the length of directed and indirect routes.
- Area of shapes such as polygons or buffered points
- Whether coordinates fall within a a predefined area such as a polygon, circle or buffered line string.