What is special about Geospatial?

Everyone is talking about the SensorWeb, but what is this all about and where is the relation to Geoinformatics?

Wikipedia defines the sensorweb as follows:

The Sensor Web is a type of sensor network or geographic information system (GIS) that is especially well suited for environmental monitoring and control. The term describes a specific type of sensor network: an amorphous network of spatially distributed sensor platforms (pods) that wirelessly communicate with each other. This amorphous architecture is unique since it is both synchronous and router-free, making it distinct from the more typical TCP/IP-like network schemes. The architecture allows every pod to know what is going on with every other pod throughout the Sensor Web at each measurement cycle.

The basic concept of a network of sensors is not new. The novelty of the Sensor Web architecture lies in the ability of the individual pieces to act and coordinate as a whole. This immediately allows the system to be synchronous throughout, unlike many other networks. In addition, the individual pods of a Sensor Web are all equal with one another and a Sensor Web architecture does not require special gateways or routing to have each of the individual pieces communicate with one another or an end user. By definition, a Sensor Web is an autonomous, stand-alone, sensing entity that does not require the presence of the World Wide Web to function.

The term “Sensor Web” is sometimes used to refer to sensors connected to the Internet (or “World Wide Web”). Such terms are occasionally used in conjunction with projects of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) or SensorNet. In this case, the network architecture requires the Internet to link together the individual sensing elements. The OGC architecture is very different than that of a true Sensor Web system and requires schemes to bring together vastly different datasets, in the same way that TCP/IP is used to tie together vastly different pieces of hardware and computing platforms. Note also that a single Sensor Web may be an individual sensing element inputing into an OGC-type network.

Some further readings:

• The OGC(R) Releases Sensor Web Enablement White Paper by Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc.
• OGC Demonstrates Sensor Web Decision Support Services by Sam Bacharach, Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc.
• The Sensor Web’s Point of Beginning by Mark Reichardt, executive director of OGC’s ( http://www.opengis.org) outreach and community adoption program.

Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

Between the Poles the Bolg of Geoff Zeiss the director of Technology gives a review on GITA 31 and the keynode by Tom Murphy.

GITA 31 just kicked off this afternoon with a fascinating keynote by Tom  Murphy, former Mayor of Pittsburgh.  He made a number of interesting points but there are three that really hit the mark with the audience.

• There will be a change in northern America life style becuase of the increasing price of oil and gas.

• Aging american infrastructure and the needed renewal of infrastructure.

• traditional sources of funding for infrastructure are drying up.

For more details read the full article.

[via Between the Poles]

Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

Following examples should show what is possible with Flex, and how do Geoweb applications in Flex look like.

• Homelocator (http://www.asfusion.com/apps/homelocator/) Home Locator is an intuitive real estate searching application. It lets users search by area by clicking on a US map and then filter the results by price, number of bedrooms, bathrooms and other relevant criteria. For each property, detailed information is shown and actual location is plotted on a map, all in one screen. Users can see pictures for a property, helping them determine whether or not they want to visit the property. They can also save properties as favorites to be reviewed at a later time and can let other people see their favorite list. As a bonus, it also includes an administration to edit properties.
• GIS Portal Aalen (http://www.gisserver.de/aalen/start.html) Aalen is a German town which has implemented their GIS Protal competely in Flex. It has all major function you would expect from a City WebGIS portal.
• ArcWeb Explorer (http://www2.arcwebservices.com/v2006/solutions/awx.jsp) ArcWeb Explorer is a Web application that demonstrates browser-based map rendering. The result is improved speed and performance, greater control over the map appearance, and desktop-like functionality over the Internet. ArcWeb Explorer also demonstrates what you can develop with the ArcWeb Explorer JavaScript API. In addition to mapping streets, data, and imagery, ArcWeb Explorer exposes other ArcWeb Services functionality through various easy-to-use widgets. For example, you can use ArcWeb Explorer to quickly find locations, create driving routes, and generate demographic reports.

Note: For running all these apps you need intalled Adobe Flash Player.

If you know other Flex based Geoapplications you are welcome to post a comment.

Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction. (the law of simplicity by John Maeden)

Does this look familiar to you while working with your company (GIS) applications? Can we focus more on usability for GIS applications? Simplicity is also possible for GIS.

[via stuffthathappens]

Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

SVG (scalable vector graphics) is a recommendation of the W3C and used for rendering vector graphics. It was predicted that SVG is the future in the visualisation of geospatial vector data over the internet. Adobe announced that with Jannuary 2009 they will discontinue the support of their SVG Viewer plug-in (see here the official announcement). According to this Silverlight will most likely become the new Intergraph preferred standard for rendering vector graphics. (see reference entry).

Silverlight is a promising technology and the possibilities are huge. but I see some problems with this:

• Microsoft and Cross Platform
• Market share of Silverlight is currently near 0
• Strong competitor with Flash and Adobe’s Flex technology

Furthermore there is the open question: Does SVG need a repacement? SVG is nearly a standard and a World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) recommendation which integrates with other W3C standards such as the DOM and XSL. I think browsers can or will nately represent SVG and there will not be a need for a plug-in.

Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.