Web Mapping and Internet GIS

Vincent Tao, Ph.D., P.Eng. Canada Research Chair in Geomatics GeoICT Lab York University www.geoict.net

A Typical Web Client/Server Model

URL Request

Web Browser

WWW
HTML, Images

Web Server

DBs Files

Client Computer

Server Computer

A Typical Web Mapping Model

Web Browser
Plug-in ActiveX Java Applet Spatial Request

WWW
HTML, Map Images, etc.

Web Server

GIS Gateway

GIS software

GIS Database

Client Computer

Server Computer

Fundamental Architectures
THIN Client THICK

Client

Client

Client

Client

Display

Display

Display

Render

Render

Render

Server

Display Element Generator Server

Display Element Generator Server

Display Element Generator Server

HEAVY

Server

LIGHT

Thin Client Architecture (1/3)

Viewer Client
Web Browser

Web Map Server

Raster
internet

Map Server

Web Server

Map Server

Standard browser

Raster

Map Server

Display

Render and Data Generator

Thin Client Architecture (3/3)

r a w d I t n e i l C

Client (Display) standard browser (scripting) Server (Render and Data Generator)
Applications (Catalog, Cascading map server, preset applications) Databases Raster transfer

Protocol (Data Transfer) Uses Mainly for data distribution, display, inventory type

Advantages vs. Disadvantages of the Thin Client Architecture

z z z z z z z z z z

Centralized Centralizedcontrol control Easy Easyfor fordata data maintenance/updating maintenance/updating Keep Keepthe thelatest latestversion version Generally Generally cheaper cheaper Integration Integrationpossibilities possibilities

Not Notresponsive responsiveto tolocal local needs needs No Nolocal localaccountability accountability Large Largedata datavolume volume(size (size of ofthe thedatabase) database) Response Responsetime timeslow slow Overloading Overloading Less Lessinteractive interactive

Thin Client Based Systems

z

Commercial systems
z z z z z z

ESRI ArcView IMS, MapObject IMS MapInfo MapXtreme Bentley ModelServer MapServer MapQuest Map Point (web version)

Medium Client Architecture (1/3)

Web Browser

Middleware
Geospatial Servlets

Raster Map Server Data

internet

Plug-in XML/SVG

internet

Map Vector Server Data

Capabilities Integrator

Layer control Local rendering

Laser-Scan Vector, Map XML Server

Raster,

Cascading Other Map Map Server

Servers

Display and Render

Data Generator

Medium Client Architecture (2/3)

Web Browser

Plug-in XML

Plug-in: enhance the current browser z XML: employ a XML enabled browser
z

internet

Transfer data format -Encoded vector -WebCGM, ActiveCGM, SVG (XML), GML

Medium Client Architecture (3/3)

r a w d I t n e i l C

Client (Display and Render) Plug-ins or Java Applet

Application (render) Applications (generate the data) Databases (data access) Encoded Vector (GML, ActiveCGM, .)

Server (Data Generator)

Protocol Uses Spatial data query and basic analysis

Medium Client Based Systems

z

Autodesk MapGuide
z z

SDF/WMF Plug-in ActiveCGM Plug-in AML (XML extension) XML based

Integraph Geomedia WebMap

z z

z z

ESRI ArcIMS
z z

Oracle GeoXML

Thick Client Architecture

Standalone application
Map Server

Web Browser

Capabilities Integrator

internet

Geospatial Servlets

Map Server

Map Server

Java Applet

Java Applet Or Active X

Map Server

Model

Thin
Management Query Processing Map render Raster (GIF/JPG/PNG) Display

Medium
Management Query Processing WebCGM XML SVG Display Map render Query Plug-in XML

Thick
Management Query Processing Vector Raster Display Map render Query Processing ActiveX Java Applet

What is your option ?

Server

Transfer Client

Browser User

Regular

viewers

professional users