preANVIL:Design of A Networked Virtual
Interoperability Laboratory
Michael GouldComputer Graphics Lab
University Jaume ICastellón, Spain
6th EC-GIS Workshop, Lyon
preANVIL
• Interoperability in Europe
• Overview and possible scenarios
• Partners and Work packages
• Key questions, issues
• Expected results
• Invitation to participate
Interoperability in Europe
• Many international initiatives, OGC
• Europe just beginning to take part– GIPSIE, ELADIS, GETIS, ETeMII, OGC Europe
– integration, not competition, with international work
– primary need: information dissemination
• Interop: key to growth and competitiveness in the European GI market
• Key research topic: AGILE Interop WG
The preANVIL project
• February 1999 workshop at JRC: Virtual Interoperability Laboratory (VIL)– in collaboration with DG III
– a brainstorming session
– Among the conclusions: “Europe could benefit from a laboratory conducting practical tests and making recommendations oriented to improving interoperability of relevant information systems and data.”
preANVIL
• September 1999: JRC’s call for tender– “To assess the technology progress in the area of interoperability of
information systems in general and GIS in particular...
– To set up a showcase for the demonstration of project results with potential to contribute to the interoperability of GI and GIS systems,
– To assess the feasibility and define a sustainability policy for the establishment of a GIS Interoperability laboratory in Europe,
– To catalyse technical discussions regarding GI/GIS interoperability and harmonising the interoperability strategy through discussion at technical forums, concertation meetings and a Workshop.”
preANVIL
• Official project title: – “PreANVIL: An Accompanying Measure for the
Interoperability of Geographic Information Systems in Europe – A Technology Perspective”
• Duration: Feb-June and July-Nov 2000
• Funding: 100+100 kEuro
• We believe ANVIL will be built in Europe, the question is how and by whom...
Scenarios: composition
• ANVIL as a simple web portal– dissemination of information
• ANVIL as a full-time, staffed operation– central server, offices, researchers/sys ops
– secondary nodes at various European sites
• Component model of funding and creation
• Single centralised laboratory (AVIL)
• Others (your ideas here)
Scenarios: roles, tasks
• ANVIL as communication mechanism– workshops, website, discussion forum(s)– builds, maintains a virtual interop community
• ANVIL as geo-interop R+TD centre– conformance testing of software– create new standards/recommendations– liasion with other global initiatives
• Other tasks...
preANVIL partners
• Gere S.A. (L), coordinator
• Geobase Consultants Ltd.
• OpenGIS Consortium (Europe) Ltd.
• Technical University Vienna
• University Jaume I, tech. coordinator
• University of Münster
• Idelux
Work Packages
• WP1: Project coordination and QA
• WP2: Technology observatory
• WP3: GIS interoperability showcase
• WP4: Technical forum, meetings/workshops
• WP5: GIS Interop Information Service (IIS)
WP2: Technology observatory
• Desk study– EC project review, website survey
– state of the art in the interoperability field
– technology trends studied...incl webmapping, mobile technologies, external forces shaping GI interop
– from >500 projects to 290 GI-related projects to 27 (4%) focusing on interoperability topics
– interop matters: on-going projects (few results)
– synthesis, results analysis currently under way
Interop project categorisation
3 main focuses
Interop Technology Graph
Middleware technologies, DCPs, etc.
Server technologies
Clienttechnologies
Technology observatory
• Close attention is being paid to mobile technologies (WAP, 3G phone technology, etc.) and their possible roles in geospatial interoperability issues
• Location based mobile services (OGC)
• Must think 12 months ahead...
...but the window of opportunity is closing
Technology observatory
• Interviews– Approximately 10 key people to be interviewed
• within and beyond the GI field
• being conducted in June (Agile, EC-GIS, etc.)
– Topics/protocol to be based on desk study results and feedback from technical forum
– Beta (test) interviews conducted at various meetings i.e. OGC TC
Technology observatory
• ANVIL Rough Idea– Design of a possible ANVIL
• example tasks to be carried out by the lab
• possible players / contributors
• sustainability
– Business plan– Concept / vision statement– Under way: call for contributions to appear in
OJEC and in public forums
WP3: GIS Interop. Showcase
• Internet based demonstrations of key interop-related projects– Clearly showing the value of GIS
interoperability to Europe
• Based on scenarios: travel from airport to hotel; environmental disaster...
• Multimedia demonstrations for public use
WP4: Tech. Forum, meetings
• Actions aimed at gaining the input of key players: How should ANVIL work?
• Technical Forum: mail list ([email protected])– moderated (not filtered)
– 110+ subscribers at present (20 countries)
– Position papers published each month, to spark debate
– more active discussions sought!
– we need your opinions and suggestions
Tech Forum (cont.)
• Position papers thus far (4)– introduction to preANVIL and problematic of
interoperability
– WAP and associated mobile technologies
– data quality/pricing (quick and dirty data for mobileGIS)
– location based mobile services: competing standards...
Meetings
• Concertation meeting of 15-20 selected experts– Probably in Ispra (JRC)– Date: t.b.d.
• Final workshop with printed proceedings– November 2000, jointly with IST Conference
(Nice)
WP5: GIS-Interop Info System
• GIS-IIS– website, portal covering all project issues– links to “everything”– www.ec-gis.org/preanvil– “public” since June 1
Expected Results
• Compilation of interop-related projects
• Website (GIS-IIS), links to resources
• Publicly available interop showcase
• Final workshop, meeting(s)
• ANVIL rough idea, business plan
• Synergy with other relevant projects
• Emphasis on public participation, feedback
Key questions
• Does Europe need ANVIL?
• What should it’s role be?
• Who (orgs, people) should run it?
• How distributed (networked) should it be?
• Can it be self-sustained?– Financing model?
• Role of emerging mobile technologies?
Invitation to Participate
• preANVIL is an open process
• depends on feedback from key players in the GI (and other related) fields– academics as well as practicioners/vendors/users
• subscribe to [email protected]
• participate in workshops/meetings
Further Information
• Many consortium members present at 6 EC-GIS workshop
• PO: [email protected]
• Consortium: [email protected]
• Web site: www.ec-gis.org/preanvil/
6th EC-GIS, Lyon