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A Comparative Assessment of Internet GIS Server Systems
- Visualization and analysis
- Plug-ins
All of the WebGIS software packages use either a Java applet to extend the capabilities at the client-side. Therefore, the requirement of installed the Java Virtual Machine was need.
- Interface, tools and database connectivity
In order to build up the WebGIS applications, MapXtreme provides an Enterprise Manager, a Java server and client GUI that allows the users to manage various aspects of data layers showing on the map. MapXtreme embraces the trend to store spatial data in relational databases which supports access to several different types of data sources, including Oracle, Informix and JDBC Compliant databases.
ArcView IMS is the easiest in practical for creating the web map application, with the ArcView program, any map you can make in ArcView can be easily published on the Web. As the AVIMS just only an extension of ArcView Program, the accessing to the outer data source have to do within ArcView project before serving to the web.
The MapServer system supports MapScript which allows popular scripting languages such as Perl, PHP, Python, Tk/Tcl, Guile and even Java to access the MapServer C API that achieve the flexibility to WebGIS developer to create features for web mapping environments. MapScript provides a rich environment for developing applications that integrate disparate data. For example, using Perl's DBI module it is possible to integrate data from just about any database vendor such as Oracle, Sybase and MySQL with traditional GIS data in a single map graphics or web page (MapServer, 2002, URL).
Table 2. Features and tools
| Supported features |
MapXtreme |
ArcView IMS |
MApServer |
| Map label |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Layer control |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Zoom scale |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Index map |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Thematic map |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Query tools |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Dynamic lettering |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Spatial analysis supported |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| geo-coding |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Database |
JDBC |
ODBC (ArcView) |
ODBC |
| XML protocol |
Y |
N |
Y |
| Browser supported |
Netscape or Internet Explorer versions 4.x or greater. |
Netscape or Internet Explorer versions 3.x or greater. |
Netscape or Internet Explorer versions 4.x or greater. |
| Raster/Vector Display Supported |
Y/Y |
Y/N |
Y/Y |
| Programming language |
Java |
Avenue/Java |
any CGI |
| Technical level |
Java Servlet/Applet skill |
Basic Html/Avenue |
Basic Html/CGI |
| Prototype Builder Wizard |
Y |
Y |
N |
| Plug-in/Other software required |
Tomcat/other servlet container |
ArcView 3.x Program on Server |
N |
Conclusions and recommendations
As a WebGIS become a rightly integration of GIS and Internet technology, the one most importance problem inhibiting information technology has been overcame in which how to access to information and data without burdening end users with any GIS software also with the ability to sharing the geo-spatial data with formats and platforms independence. The basic approach for deploying WebGIS application is depends on the user requirements that have to concern with which WebGIS packages suitable to accomplish their objectives.
The research aspires to bring up WebGIS users intended for the better decision and manage assets of web-based GIS operations. This paper is only a partial research of Web-based GIS assessment and comparative so as the performance test and benchmark index will be fully completed in November 2002.
References
- Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., (1997), Using ArcView Internet Map Server: Map Publishing on the Web, Redlands: Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
- MapInfo Corporation, (2001) MapXtreme Java Edition Developer's Guide Version 4.0, Troy, NY
- Plewe, Brandon, Onword press, (1977), GIS online, information retrieval, mapping, and Internet.
- Harder, Christia, (1998), Serving Maps on the Internet, Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., Redlands (California)
- University of Minnesota, MapServer homepage
URL: http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu
- MapInfo Corporation, MapInfo MapXtreme java homepage
URL: http://dynamo.mapinfo.com/miproducts/Overview.cfm?productid=1162
- Kenneth E. Foote and Anthony P. Kirvan, NCGIA Core Curriculum in Geographic Information Science
URL: http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/giscc/units/u133/u133_f.html
- Edward Mac Gillavry, Cartographic aspects of WebGIS-software, Department of Cartography Utrecht University
URL: http://cartography.geog.uu.nl/students/scripties.html
- Gerardo Trinidad, Ivan Cole and Wan-Yee Chan, Developing Internet-based GIS Applications, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)
URL: http://www.ccs.dlsu.edu.ph/csp/docs/proceedings/posters/developing.pdf
Data source
Data of Phuket provided by DCGM III Working Group 2001 : Urban Geoscientific Data of East and Southeast Asia GIS data sets of 11 cities, Second Edition, Digital Geoscience Map G-8, Geological Survey of Japan.
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