Building a Web-based GIS PortalFor the Great Lakes Observing

System (GLOS)

Pete GienckeProgram Specialist

Data and Information Management

Introduction

GLOS GIS Portal

The Great Lakes Observation System GIS portal intends to allow users of all levels visualize and discover geospatial data for the region at large.

The GLOS GIS Portal was written to address critical communication and information gaps amongthe various entities involved in Great Lakesresearch, management, policymaking anduse at the local, regional, and international levels.

GLOS GIS Portal

Building Upon RDX 2004

• Develop and implement advanced informational tools to promote science, education and informed decision making.

• Adopt and implement standards for data collection, management, access, exchange and tool development.

• Improve communication between the Great Lakes data and information management and user communities.

http://rdx.glc.org/conf04.html

Background

About the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)

A global ocean observing system was first suggested by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission in 1990.

Ocean.US Office established in 2000; planning began for development of a sustained and integrated ocean observing system for the U.S.

The societal goals of IOOS focus on:

detecting and predicting oceanic components of climate variability facilitating safe and efficient marine operations ensuring national security managing resources for sustainable use preserving and restoring healthy marine ecosystems mitigating natural hazards ensuring public health

Will consist of subsystems for observations, data management and communications (DMAC), data analysis and modeling, and education

User Driven, End-to-End System

User Groups/Applications

Analysis, Models, Data Requirements

Data Communications & Management

Observing Subsystem

IOOS Vision

IOOS Regional Associations

GoMOOS.org

Examples

OpenIOOS.org

Examples

http://www.sco.wisc.edu/wisclinc/

Examples

Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS)

• A Business Plan and governance structure have been established by 30-member regional steering committee, led by the Great Lakes Commission

• Inaugural Board of Directors for the GLOS Regional Association will be elected in April 2006

• Membership in GLOS is being sought from all sectors and potential user communities: maritime, environmental and industry interests, scientists, educators

• Web site: www.glos.us

Design

Application Infrastructure

• PostGIS & ArcSDE Backend

• Store & access data

•CRON/bash/perl

• Web Service Scraping

• Mapserver

• Heavy lifting map generation

• Ka-Map

• Customized, lightweight caching frontend

Design Factors (the ...abilities)

• Interoperability/Scalability

• Extensibility

• Sustainability

• Accessibility/Usability

Interoperability

• Adherence to known, open standards

• XML (SOAP), OGC (GML, WFS, WMS),

• Utilize open source software throughout

• Mapserver, Postgres, ka-map

• Ensure cross-browser, cross-platform support

• Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari

• Apple, Linux, Windows

• Screen resolutions, bandwidth?

Extensibility & Scalability

• Support disparate functionality with disparate datasets in disparate formats

• Mapserver, GDAL backbone

• Web Services, geospatial, and ancillary data aggregation, visualization, and dissemination.

• Bi-directional temporal navigation

• Retain historical data?

• Incorporate model output?

Accessibility/Usability

• Provide users with a familiar “Google-like” browsing experience

• Provide different levels of access based on rule-based authorization

• KISS – Keep it Simple ….

• Caching nature – retaining unstable services?

Operation

Operations

• Aggregation

• Ingest existing/legacy assets (orthoimagery, project-related GIS data, etc) in multiple formats (shapefile, SQL, etc).

•Input distributed (WFS/WMS/XML) geospatial information

•Visualization

• Discovery

Demo

Application Highlights

• Visualizing disparate data

• Querying data

• Incorporating real-time, or near real-time data

• Incorporating Web Services

• Linking to data

• Data Discovery

Visualizing Disparate Data

Querying data

Incorporating Real-Time Data

Incorporating Web Services

Data Discovery

Demonstration

Live Demonstration

http://mds.glc.org/glosMap/htdocs

Conclusions

Conclusions

• Challenges

• Acquiring Data

• Integration with IOOS Assets

• Standards

• Roadmap

• GLOS

• GLOS GIS Portal

Conclusions

Questions?

Pete Giencke

pgiencke@glc.org