[Geoserver-users] webvisualization of transport data for humanitarian response

GeoServer GeoServer User
1

Hey guys, I am doing an internship at a humanitarian organisation and was
asked to do a online research for the following project / concept. So I
thought, the best way to get some input and ideas is to post a general
concept here and ask for hints. It is a research about the PRACTICABILITY of
the different applications. Are the points we want doable, or not ?

so there we go . . .

1) we have a very excessive database (oracle, but PostGreSQL soon) with
roads and other transport data.

2) This Data should be shared with Partners and interested people via a
webaplication. People here are thinking of a Google API first and then a
further development, because theyhave already a small google map applet on
their page, where they put manually some points in. But if you will read
further, you will agree with me, that it would be more feasible to start
"the right way straigt".

3) The infrastructure dataset (Polygon, Line, Point) has a standardized
ArcGIS Symbology which should be kept by any means. (different road classes,
Cities by size and so forth). So I thought about an SLD export from ArcGIS
or true symbol in Mapserver, what do you think ? This is VERY IMPORTANT

4) The Webapplication should be self updating. Which means if the database
is changed (a road status for instance), the web visualisation is changed
automatically.

5) We are working within the Emergeny response sector. After a Hurricane or
Earthquake, we have often no time to modify the whole databse. Therefore it
would be really feasible, if we could also upload a shape quickly (for
instance with point data over the roads. with a standardized symbol meaning
not passable )

6) Sometime later, and thats a crucial point, the user should be able to
click on entities and a info bubble should pop up (similar to these in
google Earth). Not only with metadata but also manually added info ( like
opening hours for airports or so ) and also links which refer to a specific
website with further documents. How could we realize that ?

7) There should be a print to kml and pdf function

So that's it, thanks for reading and taking you time.

So with all these points, I thought like: Hey, why google API in the first
place and not directly mapserver or Geoserver, use open layers to visualise,
finish !

What do you guys think ? Is that possible ? what applications should we use
(geoserver, mapserver or sth totally different ?)

8) What about using google data as a backgroundlayer within Open layer ? (we
would love to use OSM data later, but have to stick because of Policy
agreements to Google first. But OL would be a perfect way to change that
later on, or not ?

So many thanks for your help and input, it is really much appreciated.
Everything is still a little bit uncoordinated, but its more a FEASIBILTY
STUDY. So thats why the most important question, what do you think of
applications to use, to achieve all points ?

all the best guys, regards Konrad
--
View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/webvisualization-of-transport-data-for-humanitarian-response-tp22116174p22116174.html
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2

Hi Konrad, sorry for the late response, most geoserver developers are meeting this week and attention to the users’ list may understandably be lowered down.

it looks to me like you have it all perfectly wrapped up on your mind… and well thought.
I of course don’t know anything else about this application than what you said here, but if that’s it, it looks like a perfect match for GeoServer. Some comments inline.

On Friday 20 February 2009 05:44:02 Konrad1 wrote:

Hey guys, I am doing an internship at a humanitarian organisation and was
asked to do a online research for the following project / concept. So I
thought, the best way to get some input and ideas is to post a general
concept here and ask for hints. It is a research about the PRACTICABILITY
of the different applications. Are the points we want doable, or not ?

so there we go . . .

  1. we have a very excessive database (oracle, but PostGreSQL soon) with
    roads and other transport data.
    hum, I can’t say without actually knowing more about your dataset, but be sure there are quite a bunch of geoserver instances serving large datasets out there.

  2. This Data should be shared with Partners and interested people via a
    webaplication. People here are thinking of a Google API first and then a
    further development, because theyhave already a small google map applet on
    their page, where they put manually some points in. But if you will read
    further, you will agree with me, that it would be more feasible to start
    “the right way straigt”.

  3. The infrastructure dataset (Polygon, Line, Point) has a standardized
    ArcGIS Symbology which should be kept by any means. (different road
    classes, Cities by size and so forth). So I thought about an SLD export
    from ArcGIS or true symbol in Mapserver, what do you think ? This is VERY
    IMPORTANT
    I guess you have a high chance of success here with the latest improvements on the GeoServer styling capabilities. That is, custom markers, dynamic labeling.

  4. The Webapplication should be self updating. Which means if the database
    is changed (a road status for instance), the web visualisation is changed
    automatically.
    out of the box

  5. We are working within the Emergeny response sector. After a Hurricane or
    Earthquake, we have often no time to modify the whole databse. Therefore it
    would be really feasible, if we could also upload a shape quickly (for
    instance with point data over the roads. with a standardized symbol meaning
    not passable )
    shapefile uploading and autoconfiguring is a feature to come in the near future. In the mean time I’m afraid you’ll have to write some code for it, not difficult though.

  6. Sometime later, and thats a crucial point, the user should be able to
    click on entities and a info bubble should pop up (similar to these in
    google Earth). Not only with metadata but also manually added info ( like
    opening hours for airports or so ) and also links which refer to a specific
    website with further documents. How could we realize that ?
    GeoServer supports per-featuretype GetFeatureInfo templates that you can use to basically reply with any HTML content you want, even applying some formatting to the feature attributes.

  7. There should be a print to kml and pdf function
    you got it. WMS has both pdf and kml output formats.

So that’s it, thanks for reading and taking you time.

So with all these points, I thought like: Hey, why google API in the first
place and not directly mapserver or Geoserver, use open layers to
visualise, finish !

What do you guys think ? Is that possible ? what applications should we use
(geoserver, mapserver or sth totally different ?)

it seems totally feassible to me, and and exciting application to build :slight_smile:

  1. What about using google data as a backgroundlayer within Open layer ?
    (we would love to use OSM data later, but have to stick because of Policy
    agreements to Google first. But OL would be a perfect way to change that
    later on, or not ?
    sure, as long as you have the appropriate Google Maps license, which it seems you do, why not. And the later switch to OSM seems clever too.

So many thanks for your help and input, it is really much appreciated.
Everything is still a little bit uncoordinated, but its more a FEASIBILTY
STUDY. So thats why the most important question, what do you think of
applications to use, to achieve all points ?

all the best guys, regards Konrad
it really seems like you got it all right to me and are on the perfect track. Yet, there may be something I’m missing, but in any case you’re taking the best approach which is asking on the list :slight_smile:

best regards and best of lucks with the project.

Gabriel

–
Gabriel Roldan
http://www.opengeo.org