1. NR 621: GIS on The Web Jim Graham Spring 2009

2. Dynamic Web Pages (server) Browser ClientServer Web Server HTML File Image File HTML File Image File Database Web Script Internet

3. GIS Web Servers Browser ClientServer Web Server HTML File Image File HTML File Image File Database Web Script Internet GIS Files GIS Server

4. GIS On the Web Map Quest Client Software Closed Servers Google Maps GoogleEarth Internet GODM Server JPL ArcExplorer ArcMap World Wind GODM Client KML Files Keyhole i3 Open Servers Google Maps Map Quest

5. Key Issues Parameters: –Schedule –Resources ($, people, equipment) –Features –Performance –Data: Large amounts can kill performance 3 Decisions: –Client features –Web Server (GIS Server, Scripting, Database) –Data configuration

6. Solutions Small amounts of data, static: –Files (Shapefiles and TIFFs) to download –KML files on a web site for GoogleEarth –Shapefiles with a GIS web server Medium amounts of data, query/search, periodic updates: –GIS web server with spatial database Large amounts of data, flexible, immediate updates: –Custom solution with spatial database

7. Client Support Web-based clients: –GoogleMaps –MapQuest –GODM Client –GoogleEarth Plug-in –ArcIMS (HTML, Java) Internet-based clients: –ArcExplorer –ArcMap –GoogleEarth –World Wind –VirtualEarth Client OSes: –Windows –Macintosh –Linux –UNIX Browsers: –IE –FireFox –Safari –Chrome?

8. Key Client-Side Questions Required features: –Web pages with 2d content? –Querying (search)? –3d visualization? Web-based (GoogleEarth plug-in)? Application based (GoogleEarth)? Recommendation: –2D web site w/search –GoogleEarth support with KML files

9. Server Alternatives OS: –Windows –Linux –UNIX Web Server –Apache –Internet Information Server Framework/Language: –ASP: VBScript –ASP: Jscript –VB.NET –C#.NET –PHP –Java –Python –Cold Fusion

10. Server Criteria We don’t have IT to support anything but windows IIS is easier to support than Apache and this can be changed later if desired Scripting Alternatives: –PHP: Fast, easy, OpenSource –ASP/VBScript: Fast, easy Question: Is OpenSource and issue for sponsors? (Don’t think they care)

11. GIS Web Serving All can use Shapefiles and external raster files. The issue is the Map Server and the Database –ArcIMS w/SQL Server –ArcIMS w/ArcSDE and SQL Server –Oracle Spatial –Map Server w/PostreSQL and PostGIS –GODM Server w/SQL Server –ERMapper (rasters only)

12. GIS Server Alternatives Shapefiles -> Spatial Database Rasters -> JPEG and/or PNG tile files Alternatives: –Map Server w/PostgreSQL & PostGIS –GODM w/SQL Server(?) –ArcIMS w/ArcSDE & SQL Server Issues: –High-resolution polylines –Large extent –Querying (Symbology?) –Updates

13. GODM Solution Client Environments: –Custom client with various backgrounds and projections: GoogleMaps, MapQuest, NASA, i3 –GoogleEarth w/KML files Server: –GODM Server w/Custom spatial data format (topological) inside SQL Server