Web GIS: Technologies and Its Applications: AA. Alesheikh, H. Helali, HA. Behroz
Web GIS: Technologies and Its Applications: AA. Alesheikh, H. Helali, HA. Behroz
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ABSTRACT
Distributing geospatial information on the Internet is an enforcing factor for information providers. Internet allows all
levels of society to access geospatial information, and provides a media for processing geo-related information with no
location restrictions. Web-based GIS is evolved from different Web maps and client-server architecture to distributed ones.
As such, Internet reshapes all functions of information systems including: gathering, storing, retrieving, analyzing, and
visualizing data. The high cost of GIS system, the release of system specific databases, and the enormous software
developer efforts on upgrading the system are fading with the introduction of web-based GIS. Moreover, disseminating
spatial information on the Internet improves the decision-making processes.
This paper examines the current Web GIS technologies with emphasis on architectures. Eight state-of–the-art Web GIS
products from leading GIS companies have been scientifically assessed. This paper also proposes a web GIS development
strategies starting from requirement analysis, and ending in GIS use and maintenance. Disseminating Iranian Road
information on the Internet has been presented as a successful implementation of the strategy.
It is concluded that the Internet based information delivery adds the margin of profitability of the Transportation and
Terminal Organization. The proposed strategy has been tested successfully. Civilian can get to their destinations faster.
1 Introduction
GIS software has enabled users to view spatial data in its proper format. As a result, the interpretation of spatial data has
become easy and increasingly simple to understand. Unfortunately, everyone does not have access to GIS, nor would he be
able to spend the time necessary to use it efficiently. Web GIS becomes a cheap and easy way of disseminating geospatial
data and processing tools. Many organizations are interested to distribute maps and processing tools without time and
location restriction to users. Internet technology has made its way to many government organizations as well as numerous
households. The ability to get information through Internet made spatial data providers to explore the Internet resources for
disseminating spatial information. To provide a successful web GIS implementation it is required to consider the
implementation as a process rather than a step. The implementation should also respect the available technology and the
application requirements.
In this paper an overview of the current Web GIS technologies is presented. Available Internet GIS software is compared.
A web GIS development cycle has been proposed and tested through publishing Iranian road information.
Device Display
Characteristics
Image
Image Render
Constraints
Display Elements
Style Display Element
Generator
Features
Query Select
Constraints
Data Source
GIS GIS
Software Database
CGI
WebServer API
WWW Browser Internet Web Server IMS
Serverlets
ASP, JSP
Filter
Service
.
Figure 7: The Initial User Interface
Acknowledgement
The authors of this paper would like to thank Iranian Transportation and Terminal Organization for their financial support
to this project.
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