Download Client/Server Architecture

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 nontechnical 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
Web Server
Application Code
Internet Map Server
Data/Database
Web Browser
Internet Mapping
Components
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

Web Server
Application Code
Internet Map 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
Web Server
Application Code
Internet Map Server
Data/Database
Web Browser
Internet Mapping
Components
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
Application Code

Web Server
Application Code
Internet Map Server
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.
Web Server
Application Code
Internet Map Server
Data/Database
Web Browser
Internet Mapping
Components
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
Internet Map Server
 Set
Web Server
Application Code
Internet Map Server
Data/Database
Web Browser
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 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
Database/Data files
Web Server
Application Code
Internet Map Server
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.
Database/Data files
Web Server
Application Code
Internet Map Server
Data/Database
Web Browser
Relational Databases (RDBMS)
 High web traffic volume
 Read/write functionality
 All the power of an RDBMS




Data security
Relational data models
Scalability
“Your application is only
as good as your data.”
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
Internet Mapping
Components
Web Browser
Presentation Tier
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 Browser

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 nonspatial information
 Examples: Microsoft Won!!
Web Browser (cont’d)
Web Server
Application Code
Internet Map Server
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
Services – access external
services
 Web
Portals – consolidate external
and internal services
 Spatial
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
[email protected]
(415)227-1140
www.fargeo.com