SpatialPoint is launching a Microsoft Virtual Earth and SQL Server 2008-based application showing the potential of that application's new spatial datatypes. Using the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) radio station coverage polygons and a routing function, a user can plot an anticipated driving route to find those stations broadcasting the Super Bowl. SpatialPoint has created a website called "Follow the Game" to assist sports fans who have to miss seeing the game.

So what's special about this? All point in polygon and polyline functionality was developed with the CTP-5 release of Katmai. The app uses Virtual Earth for geocoding and routing as well as some of SpatialPoint's Atlas technology. The application is free to the public and while the site is live now, some printing functionality needs to be implemented. Printing the map will show both the station call letters and frequencies. I plotted a route from Glencoe IL to Huntsville AL; the web will have directions such as the following:

You can tune in station WSCR-AM (670) broadcasting out of CHICAGO immediately. Coverage should last for about 131.78 miles.
You can tune in station WTMJ-AM (620) broadcasting out of MILWAUKEE immediately. Coverage should last for about 18.31 miles.
Depart on Dundee Rd (West) (1.01 mi)
1 Road name changes to SR-68 [Dundee Rd] (0.16 mi)
2 Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-94 [US-41] (13.17 mi)

I tested the application and it's pretty cool...you'll notice a few bugs which may require you to reset the map but in general, I'd use it if I were going to miss the game.


Predication: Green Bay over Patriots 28-24.

Watch your "E's" and "A's" not your "P's" and "Q's" for this one. Yesterday. Oracle acquired middleware solution provider and SOA evangelist BEA Systems for $8.5 billion. The deal has been on again, off again for months. BEA's competitive advantage is in business process improvement software (BPM) the espousal of service oriented architecture (SOA).

But don't confuse BEA Systems with BAE Systems, a defense contractor and geospatial solution provider of image analysis software.

More information is now available on Microsoft's SQL Server CTP-5. Microsoft has released CTP-5 internally and should be available to partners soon. Some details about the support for the two spatial datatypes, GEOGRAPHY and GEOMETRY, that will be included as part of the Katmai release is available in our article at Directions Magazine. We have also learned that support for spatial datatypes will be a "no-cost" item to any licensed user.