One of the most interesting new features in SQL Server 2008 is the support for spatial data. This gives developers whole new opportunities to implement geo-sensitive aspects of application at the database level. But every beginning is difficult and it is hard to find good advise.
Fortunately Alastair Aitchinson has written the book at hand. To the best of my knowledge so far it is the only one of its kind that deals exclusively with spatial data & SQL Server. And it is not to hard to predict that it is going to be the standard against which other books on the same topic will be measured.
The author succeeds in explaining the complex concepts behind the new GEOGRAPHY and GEOMETRY in a clear and easy-to-follow way.
How are these data types implemented in SQL Server?
How can you work with them on the database engine level?
How can you interact with them from .Net?
How can they be represented in a application?
How can they be indexed to offer best performance?
The answers to these and many other questions can be found in this book. Numerous examples complete the outright positive impression.
For all those that (want to) work with spatial data an absolute recommendation!
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