Open Web Mapping

Catalog description

Design, development, and implementation of web mapping applications using OGC standards and open source software. GEOG 585 Open Web Mapping (3)The geospatial industry has developed a culture of open standards and specifications by which both data and mapping tools can be made interoperable. Web Mapping requires the detailed application of a thorough theoretical understanding of these standards, as well as a working knowledge of how these standards are realized through recent information technology advances in web services and middleware. The course gives students the theoretical base from which they can go on to design, develop, and implement custom web mapping applications using open standards and open source software. On completion of the course, students will be able to build and deploy a complete web mapping solution including selecting the spatial data, the server and client software. Students will be able to determine which type of mapping server is required for their needs and to explain why choosing an open standard based solution is better than a proprietary solution. The course will cover a variety of open source software packages for web mapping and will provide pointers to commercial solutions where appropriate. Open Web Mapping is designed specifically for adult professionals. The course will be broken down into ten lessons. Each lesson will take one week to complete and requires a minimum of 8-12 hours of student activity each week, totaling approximately 120 hours of activity. Topics to be covered in each lesson include: Lesson 1 Open Web Mapping Framework International Methods Lesson 2 Web Map Servers (WMS) basics Understanding the structure of a WMS request Understanding the structure of a WMS response Lesson 3 Web Feature Server (WFS) basics Understanding the structure of a WFS request Understanding the structure of a WFS response Lesson 4 Introduction to XML XML and web mapping XML schemas Lesson 5 Styling maps with WMS and Styled Layer Description (SLD) Cascading Web Map Servers Lesson 6 Geographic Markup Language (GML) Application Schemas and Profiles Lesson 7 Advanced WFS Gazettteers Other specialist applications of WFS Lesson 8 Building a web mapping applications Deploying a WMS Deploying a WFS Lesson 9 Building a thin web mapping client Client/Server techniques Web mapping libraries and customizing them Lesson 10 The future of web mapping