Bringing Internet Data Content
into GIS Applications
Rod Low
Hawaii Pacific GIS Conference Honolulu, March 5-7, 2012
Application Platforms
• Desktop
• Web Browser
• Mobile Device
Application Platforms
• Desktop
• Web Browser
• Mobile Device
Need Server for GIS
Data & Functionality
Application Platforms
• Desktop
• Web Browser
• Mobile Device
Can Survive Interruptions
of Service
•Emergency Management Situational Viewer •Accessible from
Honolulu EOC (Emergency Operation Center) & Remotely •Runs in Web Browser (IE specified)
•Client uses Adobe Flex with ArcGIS Flex API 2.3
•Server uses ArcGIS 10 Server with Enterprise SDE
HONUA
•Situational Viewer
•Mashup
Approaches
• Hyperlinks
• Feeds
• Services
Approaches
• Hyperlinks
- Open a browser pointing to the specified URL
- Does not digest the information
• Feeds
• Services
Approaches
• Hyperlinks
• Feeds
- GeoRSS Standard - Other (often legacy)
• Services
GeoRSS feeds
• RSS is an XML Standard
- GeoRSS Standard adds Spatial Tags
Real world seldom completely correct:
Other Feeds
• Any regularly updated web site, any format
• Example NOAA weather feeds
• Tools available for Web Scraping
- Generic (e.g. XML to CSV)
- Vendor-Specific (e.g. import to SDE)
Approaches
• Hyperlinks
• Feeds
• Services
Services
Map & Image Services
Geometry
Feature Service
Special (examples)
Geocoding
Network Service
3 D Service
Geoprocessing Service
Services
Map & Image Services
• Basemap
- Cached Tiles for improved performance
- Fixed Scales
• Dynamic Service
- User control over Visibility, Scale & Symbology
Accessing Services
• SOAP (older approach)
• REST “endpoint”
DEMO:
http://geodata.sdal.hilo.hawaii.edu/ArcGIS/rest/services
/Statewide/Hazards/MapServer
Geometry Service
• GIS Functionality
– e.g. re-project data
Feature Services
• Added at ArcGIS 10
• Allows Web Editing
Specialized Services
• Geocoding
• Network Service
• 3 D Service
Geoprocessing Services
• You have more control
• If a specialized service is available, it will be much more efficient
Putting it all together
• ERG (Chemical Spill)
• Need to know wind direction
- Web Scrape the NOAA current weather
- Geoprocessing to find nearest weather gage
Conclusions
• GeoRSS standard needs to be better followed
Until then: - Customized code needed for reading most XML - Web Scraping useful
• Even desktop benefits from Internet Data - Current Conditions might be necessary for GIS
Analysis
• Synergy in combining links, feeds & services
Contact information:
Reference: http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=
9ff56fbe3c4f4b749fd6066424685280