Charlie Crocker Vice President Farallon Geographics, Inc. An Overview of Internet Mapping Technology

Why Mapping on the Internet? Ideal environment for collaboration and distribution of spatial information.

Internet Mapping Benefits  Proven collaboration environment  Makes spatial data accessible to non- technical people  Allows for centralization of data, application code, and security  Simplifies software and application code versioning and upgrades  Provides the lowest cost for distributing and collecting spatial data

 DOC Mandate  Data distribution  Realtors  Insurance Co.  Researchers  Others  Public access  Data consolidation  Multiple formats Example: DOC Seismic Hazard Mapping

Data sharing enhances collaboration

Internet Mapping Components Presentation Tier Web Server RDBMS Application Code Map Server Files World Wide Web HTTP HTTPS Web Browser Data Tier Business Logic Tier Web Server Application Code Internet Map Server Data/Database Web Browser

Web Server  Sets up communication btw client and your applications: spatial server, databases, file servers, remote resources  Manages, requests, responses, and authentication  Runs server side code or calls compilation engines  Keyhole to network; security holes start here  Many options depending on operating system  Examples: IIS, Websphere, Apache, others Web Server Application Code Internet Map Server Data/Database Web Browser

Internet Mapping Components Presentation Tier Web Server RDBMS Application Code Map Server Files World Wide Web HTTP HTTPS Web Browser Data Tier Business Logic Tier Web Server Application Code Internet Map Server Data/Database Web Browser

Application Code  Processes users input  Calls IMS and other objects  Generates wrappers  Produces dynamic response that is sent by web server to the client  Use Wizards to generate code for simple websites  Custom code to support specific workflows  Examples: ASP, JSP, JAVA,.NET, C++, etc. Web Server Application Code Internet Map Server Data/Database Web Browser

Internet Mapping Components Presentation Tier Web Server RDBMS Application Code Map Server Files World Wide Web HTTP HTTPS Web Browser Data Tier Business Logic Tier Web Server Application Code Internet Map Server Data/Database Web Browser

Internet Map Server  Set of compiled objects that interface between application code and spatial data  Accesses spatial data  Performs spatial analysis  Renders web-ready map as XML, vector, or raster  Examples: Web Server Application Code Internet Map Server Data/Database Web Browser

Internet Mapping Components Presentation Tier Web Server RDBMS Application Code Map Server Files World Wide Web HTTP HTTPS Web Browser Data Tier Business Logic Tier Web Server Application Code Internet Map Server Data/Database Web Browser

Database/Data files Data Files  Low web traffic volume  Read only functionality  Requires minimal IT support  Examples: Shapefiles, Access DBs, DWGs, MID MIFS, etc. Web Server Application Code Internet Map Server Data/Database Web Browser

Database/Data files Relational Databases (RDBMS)  High web traffic volume  Read/write functionality  All the power of an RDBMS  Data security  Relational data models  Scalability  Integration with non-spatial information (e.g. Assessor mainframe)  Business rules and topology (data Integrity)  Examples: Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, ArcSDE, etc. Web Server Application Code Internet Map Server Data/Database Web Browser “Your application is only as good as your data.”

Internet Mapping Components Presentation Tier Web Server RDBMS Application Code Map Server Files World Wide Web HTTP HTTPS Web Browser Data Tier Business Logic Tier Web Server Application Code Internet Map Server Data/Database Web Browser

 Provides user interface (GUI)  Sends requests to web servers  Processes responses: rendering html, images, and DHTML  Tracks user history and user preferences  Captures and processes spatial and non- spatial information  Examples: Microsoft Won!! Web Server Application Code Internet Map Server Data/Database Web Browser

Web Browser (cont’d)  Runs registered components, objects and applets (i.e. plugins, Flash, PDF, etc.)  Runs client-side scripts  Validation before sever call  Fewer calls to server reduces network traffic  Communication with applets and plugins  DHTML Web Server Application Code Internet Map Server Data/Database Web Browser

Leveraging Your Applications  Web Services – access external services  Spatial Portals – consolidate external and internal services

Web Services  Software components available over the web using UDDI, SOAP, GML…  Insulates you from the expense of building and maintaining data and tools  Significant savings of time, expense, and computer resources  Example Web Services:  Free services (some of Geography Network, etc.)  Subscription services (ESRI, TeleAtlas, etc.)  Custom services  Available to both web and desktop  Geocoding example

Web Services Example Web services is to a developer what a well-built web mapping application is to your user base.  Address geocoding Address geocoding  Expensive (data)  Dynamic (updates)  Complicated HW/SW  Geocoding Service Geocoding Service  Pay for usage  Simple to deploy (API)  Web and desktop

Spatial Portals  Consolidate multiple disconnected internet mapping sites and web services into one environment  Enhances collaboration across the enterprise and internet  No restrictions on the technologies that can be integrated (providers choose technology)  Re-usable services hosted on different servers  Features of applications integrated as services

Simplifying Technology Internet Mapping - ideal for collaboration and distribution of spatial information. Leverage Internet Mapping using:  Web Services – access external services and save money  Spatial Portals – consolidate external and internal services and save money

Charlie Crocker FARALLON GEOGRAPHICS, INC (415)