Web-Based Mapping of

Real-Time GIS Data

Cristian Gadea

Network Computing and Control Technologies (NCCT)

Lab
University of Ottawa

Presented at Carleton University

Nov 16, 2007

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 Agenda
• Classic Web-Based Maps
• Web 2.0 Maps and Mashups
• OGC Standards Organization & WMS
• OpenLayers
• Real-Time GPS Data
• Other Real-Time Data
• Challenges

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 Early Web-Based Maps
• Interactive, affordable & easy to access
• Mapquest
– launched in 1996
– still the most popular map site today
• 50M monthly visitors vs. 30M for Google Maps

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Source: http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/
Joint Intelligence Picture (JIP)
• Information for decision-making
Use Advanced
Map Controls

Search for Locations

View Detailed
Military Maps

Show and Hide

Map Layers

Receive Look up Additional

Information on Information 4
Selected Targets
 Web 2.0 and Maps
• AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML)
for dynamic webpage updates
• Google/Yahoo/Microsoft “Slippy Maps”
• Mashups
– http://
www.weatherbonk.com/weather/summary.jsp
– http://www.flickr.com/photos/shreck/map/
• Weather, traffic, and other sensor data not
truly mapped in real-time

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 Real-Time Data
• “you may not use Google Maps with any
products, systems, or applications installed
or otherwise connected to or in
communication
with vehicles, capable of vehicle navigation,
positioning, dispatch, real time route
guidance, fleet management or similar
applications.”
Source: http://www.google.com/intl/en_ALL/help/terms_local.html
• Also no control over map images (ex: change
colour of parks or host on own server)
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 Open Geospatial Consortium
(OGC)
• International organization with 330+ members
• Define standards for geospatial content and
services (Geographic Information System data
processing etc.)
• Web Map Service (WMS)
– Easy to host own map images (GeoServer)
– Many public WMS servers exist (NASA etc.)
– Request tiles (jpg, gif, png) via URL

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 OpenLayers
• Free Open Source “slippy map” API
• Fast and flexible JavaScript code that can
host on own web server
• Compatible with all major desktop browsers
and many mobile browsers
(no plugins necessary)
• Supports many types of layers, including
custom WMS layers and maps from
Google/Yahoo/Virtual Earth
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 Real-Time GPS Data
• GPS user sends updates to web server via
wireless internet connection
• All clients receive updated GPS information
from web server

HTML/AJAX

Laptop with GPS

receiver and internet access

HTML/AJAX
Web Server
Other PC User
Smartphone with
integrated GPS
HTML/AJAX
and data plan 9
Video of Multi-Car GPS

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 Better Real-Time Data
• Multi-car animation used pre-recorded
GPS data stored on web server

• How can we prove GIS data appears in

real-time?

• Microsoft Flight Simulator

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 Real-Time Information
Infrastructure
Flight Data

Flight Data HTML/AJAX

Web Server
PC User with
Web Browser
Flight Data

HTML/AJAX

Three Flight Simulator

Sessions with Data Drivers

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WMS Servers
Video of Flight Simulator Data

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 Challenges
• JavaScript browser compatibility issues
• Customizations for mobile browsers
• JavaScript memory management causes
browser to slow down over time
• So far only plotted points – for example, real-
time oil spill data best animated with round
objects in SVG or Adobe Flash

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 Thank you!
• Services discussed:
– mapquest.com
– maps.google.com
– maps.yahoo.com
– maps.live.com
– weatherbonk.com/weather/summary.jsp
– flickr.com/photos/shreck/map/
– opengeospatial.org
– openlayers.org
• Questions?

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