An Overview of Internet

Mapping Technology

Charlie Crocker
Vice President
Farallon Geographics, Inc.
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
Example: DOC Seismic Hazard Mapping
 DOC Mandate
 Data distribution
 Realtors

 Insurance Co.

 Researchers

 Others

 Public access
 Data consolidation
 Multiple formats
Data sharing enhances collaboration
Internet Mapping Web Server
Application Code

Components Internet Map Server

Data/Database
Web Browser

Presentation Tier Web Browser Web Browser

HTTP
HTTPS
Web Browser
Web Browser

World Wide
Web

Web Server

Business Logic Tier Application Code

Map Server

Data Tier Files

RDBMS
 Web Server
Application Code
Internet Map Server

Web Server
Data/Database
Web Browser

 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
Internet Mapping Web Server
Application Code

Components Internet Map Server

Data/Database
Web Browser

Presentation Tier Web Browser Web Browser

HTTP
HTTPS
Web Browser
Web Browser

World Wide
Web

Web Server

Business Logic Tier Application Code

Map Server

Data Tier Files

RDBMS
 Web Server
Application Code
Internet Map Server

Application Code
Data/Database
Web Browser

 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.
Internet Mapping Web Server
Application Code

Components Internet Map Server

Data/Database
Web Browser

Presentation Tier Web Browser Web Browser

HTTP
HTTPS
Web Browser
Web Browser

World Wide
Web

Web Server

Business Logic Tier Application Code

Map Server

Data Tier Files

RDBMS
 Web Server
Application Code
Internet Map Server

Internet Map Server

Data/Database
Web Browser

 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:
Internet Mapping Web Server
Application Code

Components Internet Map Server

Data/Database
Web Browser

Presentation Tier Web Browser Web Browser

HTTP
HTTPS
Web Browser
Web Browser

World Wide
Web

Web Server

Business Logic Tier Application Code

Map Server

Data Tier
RDBMS
Files
 Web Server
Application Code
Internet Map Server

Database/Data files
Data/Database
Web Browser

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

Database/Data files Data/Database

Web Browser

Relational Databases (RDBMS)

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

Components Internet Map Server

Data/Database
Web Browser

Web Browser Web Browser

Presentation Tier
HTTP
HTTPS
Web Browser
Web Browser

World Wide
Web

Web Server

Business Logic Tier Application Code

Map Server

Data Tier Files

RDBMS
 Web Server
Application Code
Internet Map Server

Web Browser
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

Web Browser (cont’d)

Data/Database
Web Browser

 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
Leveraging Your Applications

 Web Services – access external

services

 SpatialPortals – 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
 Address geocoding
 Expensive (data)
 Dynamic (updates)
 Complicated HW/SW
 Geocoding Service
 Pay for usage
 Simple to deploy (API)
 Web and desktop

Web services is to a developer what a well-built web

mapping application is to your user base.
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

ccrocker@fargeo.com
(415)227-1140
www.fargeo.com