Data Distribution Systems

Web-based spatial data distribution systems
AbstractThis paper describes the challenges and bene? ts surrounding a web-based data distribution system.
Implementing a web-based spatial data distribution can be a challenge, but many organizations are doing it successfully and reaping the bene? ts. Before enterprises undertake such projects however, they must ? rst allocate time to understanding the quality of their data, and the target audience.
Traditionally, it has been very dif? cult for an enterprise to consolidate its disparate map data into a single, seamless database, and integrate this signi? cant asset into the decision making process. For the past 30 years, organizations around the world have been capturing spatial data digitally in a wide variety of data formats. With thousands of data formats, sharing mapping data is a complete process. Industry sectors, governments, and even departments often work in data formats that most appropriately address their needs. Recent developments in spatial database technology from a variety of vendors are making it possi-ble for organizations to realize the dream of integrated spatial and attribute corporate databases. Although the transition from mapsheet ? les into a spatial database can be dif? cult, many organizations are now successfully doing this in order to leverage their signi? cant spatial data investment. This article provides guidance in preparing for such a migration, independent of spatial database type.
OverviewSpatial data is being used by an ever-increasing ized software or by using a commercial data number of organizations - from city to national translator such as Safe Software's Feature Manipu-governments, and from small companies to large lation Engine (FME) or Blue Marble Geographics' corporations - who all view spatial data as a Geographic Translator.strategic asset. As spatial data increases in impor-tance, both businesses and governments need to The growth of Internet and web-based technolo-disseminate and have access to the latest data as gies provides new distribution possibilities for cost-effectively and as fast as possible. spatial data users and providers. Web-based data distribution products are now hitting the market, As the need for spatial data grows, there is also an such as Safe Software's SpatialDirect.increasing number of web-based mapping systems that enable users to view data, and perform sim- When you are choosing a web-based data distribu-ple analysis and other basic GIS operations. The tion product, you will need to consider some key focus of these mapping systems was on providing points to ensure that the system satis? es both your GIs-based functionality over the Internet/intranet; immediate and future needs.however, the products have a limited native ability to distribute data. Spatial Database-BasedSpatial database-based systems provide superior Historically, spatial data has been distributed using performance in addition to the bene? ts of a Rela- For more information about physical media; and, since spatial data is volumi- tional Database Management System (RDBMS). Safe Software, call us atnous, data providers were often forced to provide While it is possible to distribute data via the web 604-501-9985 or visit our website at www.safe.com the data in a single format and a single coordinate from data holdings that are not stored in spatial system. As a result, data consumers who wanted databases, spatial databases such as Oracle Spatial the data in a different format or coordinate system and ESRI's ArcSDE, provide much better had to convert the data either by writing custom- functionality.
© 2005 Safe Software Inc. FME and SpatialDirect are registered copyrights of Safe Software Inc. All other product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Printed in Canada. Web-based spatial data distribution systems
Web-based data distribution systems that are built Speci? cally, it must indicate which feature on spatial databases are also in no way limited types it can service and which operations are or complicated by ? le boundaries or other tiling supported on each feature type.issues, that is the complete data holding can be Q DescribeFeatureType (required): A web featurerepresented as one contiguous dataset. The ? rst server must be able, upon request, to describegeneration of web-based data distributio... [download for more]