POSSIBILITIES OF GIS AND COMPOSITE WEB APPLICATIONS IN THE

SPHERE OF FACILITY MANAGEMENT

Tomáš Minarčík, MSc., Roman Ožana, MSc., Assoc.Prof. Bronislava Horáková,
PhD.
Institute of Geoinformatics, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava,
Ostrava, Czech Republic

ABSTRACT
In the last few years has begun the development of dynamic web applications, often
called Web2.0. From this development was created a technology of composite web
application also called Mashups. Composite web applications may easily combine huge
amounts of data sources and functionalities of existing as well as future web
applications and services. Therefore they are used to develop a new device, which offers
new possibilities of information usage. Big advantage of this technology is lowering the
cost for the software development and moreover the possibility to use application
everywhere and anytime on the planet without a need of any extra desktop software.
The combination of mashups with GIS increases usage of information thanks to
included data with direct or indirect spatial reference and their visualization with
mapping tools. This technology provides possibilities of developing basic as well as
robust web applications not only for IT or GIS specialists, but also for common users.
Simple applications, which carry large number of information can be created by users
without any knowledge of programming languages. GIS is still involving into areas,
where it has not been used before. The combination with mashups provides a quick and
easy way to solve many of today’s simple and even complex problems. One of these
problems could be the development of a facility management support system using all
the options of these powerful technologies. Final results of combination research of
these technologies are practically verified for current facility management support
system in VSB-Technical university of Ostrava for the purpose of improvement.
Key words: GIS, Web 2.0, Mashup, Facility management, GeoWeb

INTRODUCTION
In these times, the development of internet applications is faster than ever been. It is
happened because every person, who uses computer, wants also being connected to the
internet. Everybody uses internet the most often for searching information and
communicating. But if they want to do something more complex, they have to use some
sort of desktop application. This is very limiting, because every time when they want to
use desktop application, they have to be near their computer. Second limiting thing in
need of using desktop application for work or fun is desktop application itself, because
they have to own that desktop application. Solution is simple. Build powerful and
dynamic web application instead of desktop application and all two limiting points,
what we mention above, will disappear.
This wasn’t any brand new idea, this already happening. Development is really going to
building dynamic web application with capabilities of desktop application. But this web
development mostly has the limiting point, which is in desktop applications too. What if
anybody wants to use capabilities or data formats, which that application doesn’t
support? Option could be waiting for new version or search for another application. The
best solution of this problems is build own application. This is the way to composite
web applications.
Technology of composite web applications is coming from development of dynamic
web application with a lot of features for users often called Web 2.0 [5]. Composite web
applications are also called Mashups. These applications may easily combine huge
amounts of data sources and functionalities of existing as well as future web
applications and services. Therefore they are used to develop a new device, which offers
new possibilities of information usage. Big advantage of this technology is possibility to
create own web applications with all capabilities what we need and minimum
programming.
The aim of this project is find out possibilities of combining technology of composite
web applications with GIS integration to develop web application as facility
management support system. Main goal of our development is use available and free of
charge web resources like web services, application programming interfaces of web
applications etc. to show how to build robust web application with the lowest costs for
software development.

COMPOSITE WEB APPLICATION WITH GIS INTEGRATION

GIS is one of the most important parts of the system. The input data has direct or
indirect spatial reference. Technology of composite web application together with GIS
techniques provides a lot of possibilities to process input spatial data and their
visualization. Combination GIS and composite web application is also called Maps
Mashups. Everyday are created new mashup applications by users of internet and
almost 40% of them are Maps Mashups [4].

figure 1 Procentual distribution of existing Mashup applications [4]

Data processing
We assume to combine spatial data stored in several of data formats with no spatial data
stored also in various data formats or databases. All data will not be manually
preprocessed. For data processing will be created composite web application where will
be used available web services and API of existing web applications. This composite
web application will be used for data preparation process as a part of server-side
application core.
Data visualization
Visualization of spatial and no spatial data is a part of client-side application core. As a
client application for visualization will be created interactive Maps Mashup. For spatial
data visualization will be used API of web map applications and output of server-side
application core.

FACILITY MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SYSTEM

Facility management is very fast growing area. For quality managerial decisions is
important to have robust software product, which combine huge amount of information
from many sources. Facility management support system could be build for specific
function areas such as room inventory and property evidence, space management,
infrastructure management etc. [2]
Our software project is designed as facility management support system for room
inventory and property evidence. Knowledge of information about property evidence of
institution like university, which is accessible only by specific employees is limiting.
This old system has to be replaced by support system which could be accessible to
anybody who has access privileges.
Solution is dynamic web server-client application which could be realized as intranet or
internet application. Our system is designed as internet application with direct
connection to existing web services, API’s and web map services.
The main functions of our facility management support system for property evidence
are storing data, editing data and visualization data. Our system is designed to use
existing data sources, which is also existing database of property evidence. New system
doesn’t change existing information infrastructure, but just process data inside data
preparation. Privileged users could store new data, edit data and visualize data through
user interface of client Maps Mashup application.

DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM STRUCTURE

Our application will be work with multiple data resource, that fact influence system
structure. We assume that, we build two layered system. The first layer will be on
server side. Here assume using PHP or some another server side scripting language for
data preparation. Basically into our system will be inputs data from three data source.
The first, most important data resource is database (DB). That database contains
information about whole organization property, that database already exists. The second
data resources we called Raster/Vector Data. That resource includes all types of raster
spatial data for example plat maps, building maps etc. The second data resource is
smashed inside our organization into small bits; some of them were prepared by our
students in their diploma thesis [1], [3]. The last one data resource, that we assume as
input into our application is Map Services. The Map Services provides ground spatial
data. We assume using some existing Map Services. These three resources together
provide whole basic data background.
The supplementary data resource, that we assume use, will be code lists, supporting
spatial data or some XML data. These data resources of course play an important role in
data preparation process. We also assume exploit them in our application. In present we
don’t know exact enumeration of all supplementary resources, but it is one of main
point of our research.
The seconds layer of our application will be on client side, here assume using DHTML
and Javascript language for dynamically content generation. We prefer using some free
services for spatial data visualization e.g. Yahoo Maps, Google Maps or Live Maps
from Microsoft. At worst also consider use UMN Mapserver, but our intention is using
existing free of charge services around.

figure 2 System structure

EXPECTED RESULTS
Our basic idea is interconnect existing data inside organization with free of charge
services around into new mashup or geo-composite application. The main goal is
overlook possibilities of free web-services and new approaches within the context of
facility management.
From the beginning is our goal to provide superior and user friendly data visualization.
It means that, the data editing capabilities are assumed as added value. Basically, we
advice, that first version of our application will be only comfortable data viewer.
We expect that, our application shall be used for obtain basics overview about
organization property. Our goal is make information much more accessible through well
known web interface.
CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK
We propose an asset system structure of facility management support system for the
room inventory and property evidence of institutions like university. The proposed
facilities management support system integrates GIS and composite web application
technology.
Our development and research is still active. We explore positive and also negative
possibilities of combination technologies from different areas. Our results will be
consisting of theoretically and practically verification of possibilities integration
mentioned technologies into existing system for the purpose of improvement.
It is assumed that, entire thesis will be verified on pilot of facility management support
system of organization VŠB – Technically University of Ostrava.

REFERENCES
[1] Anton Mráz. Geodata for 3D model of VSB-TO of Ostrava – building J, 2007.
[2] International Facility Management Association - Czech Republic,
http://www.ifma.cz
[3] Pavlína Kiszová, Geodata for 3D model of VSB-TU of Ostrava – building NK,
2007.
[4] Programmableweb. http://www.programmableweb.com/mashups
[5] Tim O’Reilly. http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-
is-web-20.html