Internet GIS (and its applications to transportation) Keivan Khoshons GEOG 516 March 9, 2004

Outline Introduction: What is Internet GIS? Characteristics of Internet GIS Challenges for Geographic Information on the Internet Why Do We Need Internet GIS? Basic Components of Internet GIS Internet GIS Applications to Transportation Conclusions

What is Internet GIS? It seems that there is no general agreement on the term to describe the Internet-based geographic information systems and varieties of names are used, such as: Internet GIS GIS On-line Distributed Geographic Information (DGI) Web-based GIS or Web GIS

What is Internet GIS? (cont’d) Internet is different from the Web: The Internet: the network infrastructure that hosts many applications (usually based on the client/server model) The Web: a networking application supporting a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) that runs on the top of the Internet Many other applications run on the top of the Internet but are not part of the Web, such as , File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Telnet, future client/server applications

What is Internet GIS? (cont’d) Definition of Internet GIS The framework of network-based GIS that employs the Internet to access remote geographic information and geoprocessing tools

Characteristics of Internet GIS (cont’d) Integrated client/sever computing It has a dynamic client/server concept in performing GIS analysis tasks, in which the client can request data and analysis tools from the server The server performs the job itself and sends the results back to the client through the network (thin client), or The server sends the data and analysis tools to the client for processing (thick client)

Characteristics of Internet GIS (cont’d) Web-based interactive Different from traditional desktop GIS with its dependency to GUI (i.e., Graphic User Interface) for interacting with GIS programs, Internet GIS enables users to manipulate GIS data and maps interactively over the Internet or wireless networks. GIS functions such as map rendering, spatial queries, and spatial analysis can be performed using a Web browser or other internet-based client programs.

Characteristics of Internet GIS (cont’d) Distributed and dynamic The GIS data and analysis tools can be accessible in different computers or servers on the Internet. The distributed system keeps data and application programs updated, so Internet GIS is dynamically linked to data sources. This dynamic nature offers more capabilities to Internet GIS to analyze real-time information in real-time connections, such as Advanced Traveller Information Systems (ATIS) Advanced Public Transit Systems (APTS) Incident Management Systems (IMS)

Characteristics of Internet GIS (cont’d) Cross-platform and interoperable It can be accessible across computing environments and platforms with different operating systems, different PDAs, and cellular phones. These capabilities require high interoperability for accessing and sharing remote GIS data and functions. Open GIS Consortium is working to set the ground rules for GIS interoperability. Some of the examples include: The Open Geodata Interoperability Specification Geography Markup Language (GML)

Challenges for Geographic Information on the Internet Integration of heterogenous data formats Geographic information are different in resolutions, scales, times and domains Major challenges how to integrate heterogeneous data formats or provide a standardized data transfer procedure for distributing geographic information across the network

Challenges for Geographic Information on the Internet (cont’d) GIS operation/overlay Current Internet GIS programs mainly focus on the display of geographic information without providing many comprehensive Internet GIS operations and overlay tools, which is useful for processing geographic information and generating new layer of information. Major challenges Lack of appropriate mechanisms for exchanging or uploading GIS applications to servers; Lack of interoperability in GIS programs, models, and analysis procedures

Challenges for Geographic Information on the Internet (cont’d) Integrated metadata scheme Traditional GIS only uses descriptive metadata for tracking data or facilitating the correct use of data. Computer science emphasizes machine-readable metadata for storing, searching, and integrating software components. Major challenges Adoption of both ideas; and Design of an integrated metadata scheme for geospatial data and software components

Why Do We Need Internet GIS? Globalization of geographic information access and distribution increasing demand for availability of information to the public Decentralization of geographic information management and update GPS, remote sensing, and satellite images are providing GIS with huge databases; Huge databases cause serious data management problems for maintaining, updating, and exchanging geographic information; Establishing open and distributed geographic information services will improve the efficiency of GIS data base management and reduce the cost of GIS database maintenance.

Basic Components of Internet GIS The client as user interface for users to interact with the Internet GIS programs Web server with application server for receiving client requests, serving static Web pages, and operating application servers Map server for processing client requests and generating results Data server for serving geospatial and nonspatial data, and providing data access and management through a Structured Query Language (SQL)

Basic Components of Internet GIS (cont’d) Reference: Peng and Tsou, 2003 Client Web Server with Application Sever Map Server Data Server

Internet GIS Applications to Transportation A perfect tool for publishing and visualizing transportation data over the Internet. highway and transit traffic levels, construction conditions, weather information Potentially capable for data sharing and transportation analyses over the Internet.

Internet GIS Applications to Transportation (cont’d) Transportation information on the Web Transportation information dissemination announcing and displaying transportation information Users simply view the posted information Interactive communication active manipulation and search for specific information based on users’ needs and giving feedback to the system providers On-line transactions instant interactions between system providers and users, e.g., ticketing and reservations

Internet GIS Applications to Transportation (cont’d) Interactive road maps User/spatial-data interaction is one of the major capabilities of Internet GIS, which can be found in interactive road maps Users can zoom into (or out of) a specific area, inquire a specific address and identify a particular road links. These kinds of electronic maps on the Internet are more convenient to use than the traditional paper maps. Examples Yahoo! Maps at MapQuest at

Internet GIS Applications to Transportation (cont’d) Advanced Public Transit Systems (APTS) Internet GIS can be used for providing an Internet-based transit information system that allows transit users to plan a trip and to query service-related information, such as schedules and routes. Examples Toronto Transit commission (TTC) Web site at Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Web site (TransLink) at

Internet GIS Applications to Transportation (cont’d) Advanced Traveller Information Systems (ATIS) Internet GIS, once linked with real-time traffic information, can be used in developing Advanced Traveller Information Systems (ATIS) ATIS are designed to provide the traveller with up-to-date information about current traffic conditions Based on the systems, users may be able to view the traffic flows on the entire roadway system in the corridor, zoom into a smaller area for a more detailed view, quickly find the travel speed along a specific link on a roadway, and see the traffic flow via real-time video snapshot Example The Gateway Traveller Information System for the Gary-Chicago- Milwaukee Region at

Conclusions Internet GIS combines the advantages of both Internet and GIS. It can be used by governmental agencies to share data within and across agencies, or even to publish spatial data on the network for public access. It provides public with access spatial information without owning expensive GIS software. It allows transportation professionals to have more abilities in sharing data and to conduct transportation analyses using real- time and up-to-date information across a network as well as at an individual site, and consequently, to make more informed decisions. This open data sharing system will have positive impacts in reducing the barriers within transportation departments and across other agencies.

References Peng, Zhong-Ren and M. H. Tsou (2003), “Internet GIS, Distributed Geographic Information Systems for the Internet and Wireless Networks”, John Wiley and Sons Peng, Zhong-Ren and E. A. Beimborn (1998), “Internet GIS and Its Applications in Transportation”, On-line, The Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (TransLink), The Gateway Traveler Information System for the Gary-Chicago- Milwaukee Region, Yahoo! Maps,

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