Integrating GIS with web for public participation


After receiving requests the server will then:
  1. Process the spatial analysis or Mapping request.
  2. Make the necessary map and translate it to a BMP file.
  3. Translate the BMP file to JPEG or GIF file.
  4. Serve the image and data listing by HTML.
Currently, two varieties of raster image formats are widely supported on the World Wide Web: CompuServe's popular Graphic Interchange Format (GIF) and the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) based format JFIF. The ESRI Web Link ActiveX control ships with methods to convert Windows bitmap files-exported by the Map control-into either of these two formats. The WebLink control method BMP2GIF generates a GIF file given a source BMP file and similarly, the method BMP2JPEG generates a JFIF format JPEG file. Both of these formats greatly reduce the size of the image data through compression and thus reduce the time required to send the data across the Internet. The technologies related to the Web-based GIS applications include Object-Oriented Language, GIS package and language, HTML, and CGI. To create a Web-based GIS application, the programmers should have knowledge of the software packages described above.

There are two topics that deserve further research. It is important to consider how to get support to cover the costs of hardware, software, programmers, and staff to maintain a Web-based GIS site. A Web-based GIS site for public participation could be supported by universities or government agencies, or with federal, state, local or private grants. The other issue for further research is assessing the impact of PPGIS on communities.

Conclusion
The future of Internet GIS is bright and brimming with opportunities. There will be opportunities to reduce operating expenses by, among other things, accessing and paying for GIS functionality on an 'as needed' basis through a cable and not having to invest in the technology overkill of boxed desktop products. We will find opportunities to increase productivity not only by placing friendly GIS interfaces at the disposal of novice users, but by placing it in their palm computers, as well. Smart companies with fast deployment tools will extend GIS-based service to their staff who will use these applications to retain customers more predictably.

All these opportunities are now appearing alongside the adoption of distributed, intelligent architectures combined with effective tools for development. And when offered with client interfaces that make GIS easy to use for everyone, the result is a vivid reminder of the power of GIS. The power of geographic analysis, matched with distributed computing's power to increase the return on huge investments in spatial data by putting information in the hands of millions, will make a difference.

The tendency seems to be that there is more and more enabling technologies available for implementing public participation methodologies. Computer and World Wide Web literacy is also improving rapidly. It is apparent that the institutional issues are the hardest ones. How open are planning and decision making processes going to be in future? What information is to be released to the public? How can genuine communication between planner, decision maker and public be achieved? Are public willing to participate? Although some experimental work has been carried out in these areas, many more real life projects and much more empirical research is necessary.

References:
  • ESRI, 1995. Understanding GIS- The ARC/INFO Method. GeoInformation International, UK: pp1-2.
  • ESRI, 1996a. Getting Started with MapObjects Internet Map Server. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. Red Land, California.
  • ESRI, 1996b. MapObjects-GIS and Mapping Components Programmer's Reference. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. Red Land, CA.
  • ESRI, 1996c. MapObjects- Building Applications with MapObjects. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. Red Land, California.
  • Huxhold, W. 1991. An Introduction to Urban Geographic Information Systems. Oxford University Press, New York: p.p. 58.
  • Krygier J. B. 1997a. Buffalo's Lower West Side: WWW Project. http://www.geog.buffalo.edu/~jkrygier/krygier_html/lws/lws.html
  • Krygier J. B. 1997b. Project Proposal- Methods for Interactive Mapping and Geographical Information Systems via the World Wide Web. Research Development Fund.
  • Maguire, D. J. 1994, "What is an object-oriented GIS?" Proceeding of the Fourteenth Annual ESRI User Conference. p.p. 74-89.
  • NCGIA, Univ. of Maine. 1996. PPGIS Workshop Background: http://ncgia.spatial.maine.edu/ppgis/xdoc.html
  • Nyerges T. and Barndt M. 1997. Public Participation Geographic Information Systems, Proceedings of Auto Carto 13, Seattle, WA.
  • Pima County CAD/GIS, 1997.Developing GIS for the Web: http://www.gis.pima.gov/webdev/
  • Shibley, Robert G. 1994. The Lower West Side- Strategies for Neighborhood and Community Development. The Urban Design Project, School of Architecture and Planning, SUNY at Buffalo and The residents and businesses of the Lower West Side of Buffalo.
  • Schroeder, P. 1995. Criteria for the Design of A GIS/2. Discussions at the NCGIA I-19 Specialists' Meeting: http://ncgia.spatial.maine.edu/ppgis/criteria.html.
  • Langaas, Sindre. 1996.Commercial, off-the-shelf solutions for GIS - WWW interfacing: http://www.grida.no/prog/norbal/docs/giswww/giswww.htm.
  • Zhan, Feibing, and Mark, D. 1992."Object-oriented Spatial Knowledge Representation and Processing: Formalization of Core Classes and Their Relationships." Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Spatial Data Handling. p.p. 2:662-671.
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