Mapserver The PSU Experience David Percy Geospatial Data Manager, Geology Department William Garrick Manager of Academic and Research Computing Portland State University

2005 the year of OS GIS Books –Mapping Hacks –Web Mapping Illustrated –MapServer Essentials Google Earth AutoDesk

Background of Presenters Percy –Over 20 years of scientific databases including medical research –Hired by Geology department in 1998 as data manager. GIS became an obvious need. –Began teaching in 1999, since then adding Field GIS, GIS Programming and this year Web Mapping Will –Manager of Academic and Research Computing –Staff at PSU for 8 years –12 Student Programmers

Previous Web Mapping at PSU Windows servers in offices running ESRI ~ : Geology, and Urban Planning Map Objects, then ArcIMS: Oregon Geologic Map and reference First Mapserver foray in 2002, project abandoned not due to mapserver Coastal data, database of Glacier Change, all science goes to the web now. ASP pages transitioned to Apache, MySQL, PHP in 2003 in preparation for move to Open Source

Academic and Research Computing to the rescue! Managed servers with Linux Ugly install of ArcIMS Began discussion of Mapserver/PostGIS Other projects requesting webmaps from ARC Strong investment in Apache, PHP, MySQL already. Leverage existing strengths Cost of Oracle/SQL Server prohibitive at PSU Institutional support for Open Source solutions

Components of Open Source Web Mapping The new “LAMP” L – Linux A – Apache M – MySQL P – PHP L – Linux A – Apache M – MapServer P – PostGIS

Open Source Components GDAL – Raster Library OGR – Vector Library GD – Graphics Creation Proj.4 – Coordinate Systems FreeType – Nice fonts! GEOS – Geometry Engine Shapelib – Shapefile library

Setting up a MapServer Site Installation –Build from source code –Install a package Get data on server Create mapfile –(analogous to AXL) Choose or write a front end –(similar to choice between HTML and JAVA) Stateless! –(No JAVA Servlets!)

A closer look at the “stack” Front end – –PHP/Mapscript with Javascript –PHP/Mapscript –Pure CGI with template substitution Data in –PostGIS or Shapefiles for vector –Geotiff, ECW or JPEG2000 for raster –Referenced and styled by MAPFILE Mapserver CGI built with all the right “includes” Webserver – Apache Operating system - Linux

The Big Choice: What front end? Percy facilitates open source sessions –Ka-Map –Chameleon –MapBender, MapLab, FIST Grad Students revolt! –Requirements defined Pan, Zoom, Query, some AJAX –In a single weekend prototype developed –Currently used in three production systems, fourth almost ready Demos!

Web Interfaces Ka-map Chameleon Maplab MapBlender FIST CGI Build your own

Conclusions Web Mapping is reliable and proven GeoDatabases, combined with WFS and WMS services are reliable and promising Be careful what Open Source project you align with –Many projects are brilliant, but orphaned OSCDL will continue support and development, both for map interfaces and backend datastreams.

Data Streams End of Monolithic Web Apps Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) –WMS –WFS Query for capabilities High Quality data streams from many sources, possibly aggregated through Google Earth

Data Management Partnerships Similar to co-location of servers Harness the expertise of PSU

GeoDatabases PostgreSQL –From Berkely, Ingress –Transactions, rollback and other modern database features –Object – Relational DB PostGIS –Extensions for GIS functionality to PGSQL