SQL Spatial Training

SQL Spatial Training Course Overview

This practical course is designed to further GIS or Database Administrators with additional skills for managing spatial data in a relational database environment. With the growing need to manage large deposits of GIS data, this course is designed to further analysis skills in respect to querying and extracting spatial data from a relational database.

Attendees will learn techniques that will allow them to enhance their knowledge of managing SQL Server Spatial Databases, object geometries, SQL Spatial commands and spatial queries.

We recommend that attendees have an understanding of SQL, databases and GIS functionality prior to attending this course. If you have a good foundational experience of SQL Server and wish to learn spatial database concepts, then you can complete Day 2 of the course singularly. We strongly encourage Day 1 attendance of the course if you have limited SQL Server experience.

Who should attend our SQL Server training course:

This course is designed for GIS operators or Database Administrators who work with Microsoft SQL Server. We cover fundamental knowledge of SQL Server, however focus on the spatial aspects primarily. It’s not necessary, but prior non-spatial experience with SQL Server is advantageous when attending this course. Participants will complete the course with a confidence in how to load, store, query and maintain spatial data in SQL Server – which compliments desktop GIS skills and is considered a key learning area in the spatial industry.

SQL Spatial Training Course Outline

In Day 1 we cover the fundamental aspects of SQL Server and SQL Server Management Studio. This is designed to ensure the concepts of SQL Server are understood. We build on that knowledge in Day 2 and focus on the spatial concepts of SQL Server to ensure attendees are equipped with the necessary spatial knowledge of SQL Server.

Day 1 SQL Server Fundamentals Introduction Course

  • Introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL)
  • Database Tables and Structure
  • Deep diving in SQL Commands
  • Extracting data using practical SWL examples
  • SQL Calculations
  • SQL Joins
  • Updating, inserting and deleting data
  • Best practise table, data concepts and primary keys
  • Views
  • Overview of the SQL server

Total duration: 1 day, 9am – 5pm

SQL Server Fundamentals training dates: 4th March 2026. Book Now.

Day 2 SQL Spatial Concepts

  • Spatial data types and tables
  • Geometry vs. Geography
  • Projection concepts
  • Uploading, maintaining, deleting and restoring spatial data
  • Spatial indexing
  • Views (thematic, complex joins)
  • Stored procedures
  • SQL spatial commands
  • OGR Commands
  • Well known text
  • Well known binary
  • SRID
  • Intersections
  • Buffers
  • Extracting co-ordinates
  • Union and aggregate unions
  • Minimum bounding rectangle
  • Distance

Total duration: 1 day, 9am – 5pm

SQL Server Spatial Advanced training dates: 5th March 2026. Book Now.

Course Schedule:

You can view our full upcoming course schedule here.