Data Acquisition using Mashup and 3-D Technology

Matt RahrCollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences

University of Arizona

Let’s Do It!

A “hybrid” website or web applicationContent from multiple sourcesCreates a completely new service

What is a Mashup?

+

Your Data

Characteristics of Mashups

Open sourceMultipurposeCan be used by communities to share or collect informationCan be interactive = “pin-maps” e.g. KatrinaThey are not GIS, but could become so…

&

Independent Site

HousingMaps.com

Craigslistdb

Mash Data Together

Mashup Example

Components of a Mashup

Data – you normally supply some of this

The API is published by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo – you tie your data to their maps/aerials

Web browser is the client interface

Using the API

Building a Mashup - using the API

Getting a key

Obtained at http://www.google.com/apis/maps/signup.html

Terms of use…Unlimited hits50k geocode requestsGoogle reserves the right to include advertising.Must be freely accessible to end-user.

Must have a Google Account (@gmail)Must provide domain name… http://

Google Conditions (others do not have these, or these may change)

You get a key randomly generated for this domain – all your pages with maps must be at this file level.

API Steps

Create <div>’s = empty boxes where the content will go, e.g. a map or data<div id="map" style="width: 500px; height: 300px"></div>

Use Javascript functions to “fill” the divfunction load(){ var map = new GMap2(document.getElementById("map")); map.setCenter(new GLatLng(37.4419, -122.1419), 13);

}

API Steps (cont.)Previous code will create this:

API Steps (cont.)

Add additional commands (“methods”, “properties” and “events”) to enable or constrain the map environment e.g. zoom, scroll, get xy center of map, add pins, etc.

Explore other ways to enhance your site

Data AcquisitionExisting Spatial Data into the Mashup

Write Javascript via the APIvar oldMainXY = new GLatLng(32.23153, -110.9529); var oldMainMarker = new GMarker(oldMainXY); map.addOverlay(oldMainMarker);

Using free webtools…http://www.mapbuilder.net/http://www.wayfaring.com/

Convert existing spatial data to KML

What is KML?

Keyhole Markup Language

Its simple-text… readable!

Its XML based… organized, parsable

It can be easily edited… text editor

KML under the hood…

<Placemark><name>GeoWeb 2007</name><description>

Conference held in Vancouver, BC.</description><Point>

<coordinates> -123.112324, 49.284336, 0

</coordinates></Point>

</Placemark>

KML Other cool things…

KML can be searchable via Google

KML can be viewed across different clients…

On the web via Google MapsIn 3-Dimension within Google EarthIn a mobile environment via Google Maps for Mobile

KML can be “network-linked”Auto-refreshes when new data is added to the KML layer.

Converting to KML

Plenty of ToolsArcGIS 9.2 tool in Arc Toolbox

ArcScripts for 9.1 and below

Arc2Earth for Enterprise level…

Data AcquisitionCreating New Data within a Mashup

Microsoft Virtual Earth “Collections”Web-BasedSharable via menu…

Send in emailCopy to clipboardBlog itLink to it

Geometric Measurements built-inRelief data just addedOblique imagery3D-Built in

Data AcquisitionCreating New Data within a Mashup

Google Maps “My Maps”Web-BasedSharable via menu…

Send in emailLink to it…Save as KML*

Embed HTML in your tagExtra content can be added to your mashup

3rd Party Mashup Sites

www.communitywalk.comwww.wayfaring.com

Built on top of an existing mapping API, such as Google or Virtual Earth

A good selection, each with their pro’s and cons.

Community Walk

Community Walk (cont.)

Community Walk (cont.)

Using Mashup Providers

Pro’sNo programming requiredQuick startup time

Con’sThe data you enter stays within the 3rd Party’s database.Difficult to extract data for use in a GIS.Requires users to be registered to yet another site.Map’s are shared, but only allows visiting users to view data, not edit.

Katrina Info Map

Data AcquisitionWriting your own Mashup

Write a custom interface for your usersProgrammatically input data using the API.

Benefits:Get to collect multiple Attribute FieldsStore the data how you want to…

XML, KML, CSV, plain-text fileDatabase – MySQL, Oracle, SQLServerSpatial Database – SDE, Oracle Spatial, PostGIS

Data stored on backend

AJAX passes javascript requests to the server…

Server code then does your…ODBC – JDBC – ADO Connection

Spatial Database APIArcObjects, PostGIS API

Web ServiceArcGIS Server Geoprocessing Service

Mobile Data Acquisition

Data can be aqquired in the field with a smartphone, a cellular data plan, and a GPS.

GPS sends X,Y locations to the smartphone via Bluetooth or serial cable.

The phone initiates an IP connection to your database via its cellular data protocol (EVDO, EDGE, HSPDA). Requires mobile software…

The web-mashup reads data out of database in real-time.

Mobile Data Acquisition Solutions

Use 3rd Party Appshttp://www.3dtracking.nethttp://goopstechnologies.com/

Or roll out your own.same pro’s and con’s

Using 3D Technologies in Data Acquisition

Helps with visualizing an application.

Potential for orientation in the field but there are issues…

Resolution

Bandwidth

How to integrate with open source mapping like Google Earth?

How to add GIS capability?

3-Dimension in Google Earth

Google Earth reads KML…

Points, Lines, PolygonsSimple attributes

Real-time data can be added on-the-fly with KML’s “Network Link” attribute.

Real-time data can also be aggregated from a GeoRSS feed.

Raster Data can also be converted to KML… Draped over terrain.

Insert DRG

Close up of fly through

Non-geographical uses

You can make your z-value some other parameter, like populations statistics

e.g. states of Mexico

Example – states of Mexico

Example (cont.)

3D in Microsoft Virtual Earth

Built as a web-plugin.

Sits on the “webtop”, not a separate program.

Similar to Google Earth, butData cannot be exported/imported on a standard such as KML*Oblique photography automates 3D objects.Google Earth relies on users to graphically create 3D objects and add to the collection.

Data Acquisition Mashups - summary

Powerful, easy-to-use and cheap.

Data integrates nicely into 3D

Data can move to the field for data collection and collaboration.

Custom mashups allow users to store data in spatial databases for GIS analysis

Thanks!

Any questions an be directed to me at rahr@ag.arizona.eduThis presentation can be downloaded at

http://cals.arizona.edu/calsnet/presentations/geoweb2007/