FDO Provider for SQL Server 2008

Recently released by Autodesk was the addition of another FDO provider, this one is for the new SQL Server 2008 database by Microsoft. The most important, at least to me and my geospatial brothers and sisters is now SQL Server is a fully enabled spatial database similar to our friends at Oracle and their Oracle Spatial database platform. Some of the notable features of SQL Server 2008 is the following:

• Use the new GEOGRAPHY data type to store geodetic spatial data and
  perform operations on it.

• Use the new GEOMETRY data type to store planar spatial data and perform
  operations on it.

• Take advantage of new spatial indexes for high-performance queries.

• Use the new spatial results tab to quickly and easily see spatial query results directly from within SQL Server Management Studio through support for spatial standards and specifications.

• Extend spatial data capabilities by building or integrating location-enabled applications through support for spatial standards and specifications.

For the AutoCAD Map 3D 2009 and Mapguide 2009 user they can use this database to read/write data to, increasing the options for centralizing geospatial data for enterprise sharing. And Microsoft has also made it easy to start using this data base today, they created a SQL Server 2008 express, a free version that will have some limits on the size of the database that you can create. To obtain the FDO you will need to be on subscription with Autodesk and access the Autodesk subscription center.


The FDO team made this a very easy process with an installer that updates your provider files for AutoCAD Map 3D and Mapguide automatically. Simply download from the subscription site and run the .EXE file and your AutoCAD Map 3d 2009 and Mapguide 2009 will be ready to access the datastore. What a great alternative to the usual databases in our industry!

Good Mapping, Neal