Microsoft selected Esri to demonstrate the spatial data storage functionality of SQL Server 2008 at its premier launch event on February 27, 2008. Esri was the only business partner invited to show the integration of spatial support with Microsoft presenters. This support is the result of a close multiyear collaboration between Esri and Microsoft in the development of SQL spatial extensions to SQL Server 2008.

During the Microsoft event, Esri's California regional office manager Nate Johnson demonstrated ArcGIS Desktop software working in concert with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 to perform business site selection analysis. Johnson performed a variety of analytical functions using ArcGIS Desktop and consumed spatial data from SQL Server 2008 integrated with ArcSDE technology in ArcGIS Server Enterprise (Advanced, Standard, and Basic editions). "The goal of the collaboration was to provide a robust and secure data management platform that also delivers geospatial intelligence where users need it," says Johnson. "The demonstration was meant to show how easy it is to conduct detailed analyses from ArcGIS Desktop using the spatial features in SQL Server."

SQL Server 2008 introduces two new spatial data types: geography and geometry. All editions of ArcGIS Server Enterprise 9.3 will support these new spatial types for vector geometry storage in the enterprise geodatabase. Combined with Esri's geodata management framework, the two new spatial types in SQL Server 2008 enable users to take advantage of the geodatabase data model and directly access spatial data with native SQL functionality in the DBMS for integration with other enterprise applications.

Esri offers a complete suite of geospatial software solutions that can benefit from the powerful data management capabilities of SQL Server. ArcGIS Business Analyst Server, for example, gives users the ability to centrally manage and maintain their projects and workspaces. Also, now that SQL Server 2008 supports the storage of two new spatial types natively in ArcGIS Server Enterprise, ArcGIS Business Analyst Server can be better integrated with enterprise business systems.

"Esri is taking full advantage of SQL Server 2008 to help our government, utilities, and commercial enterprise customers take the geographic approach to improving their business processes," says Esri president Jack Dangermond. "Esri and Microsoft together provide the platform to organize and manage geographic information, leading to improved methods for analyzing and using information more effectively to make better decisions."

The next scheduled release of ArcGIS Server Enterprise will leverage the new spatial technology in the upcoming release of SQL Server 2008. Esri will continue to participate in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 launch events throughout the United States.

More Information

To learn more about Esri's support for Microsoft SQL Server 2008, visit www.esri.com/sqlserver2008.