Open Source Vector Database

[Michael Kleih]

Hello Frank and others,

I am working on a project that wants to improve the sharing of geographic
data and give the users the possibility to combine data coming from
different sources in a online-JAVA-Tool. The tool uses the new WMT OpenGIS
standard. Try it out:

http://opengis.jrc.it

Choose a geographic area, eventually you also might zoom in. After you have
done so, click on "create map for the selected area". Two new windows will
appear. In the window called "List of layers" click on the folder and drag
several databases to the right (MSIExplorer: use the ">>" button). While
doing so you can also select a representation style from a pull down menue.
When you have select all layers you are interested in click on "Put selected
layers in list". In the "Map Tool Window" click on "UPDATE MAP".The
requested map will be created retrieving layer by layer. Once the map is
ready you have several options: you can pan left/right/up/down, you can zoom
in/zoom out, you can resize the map, you can delete layers, you can change
the order of layer (with the "/\" and "V" buttons), you can add new layers.
It is also possible to print the map. Since java does not allow printing
from an applet, when clicking on the "PRINT" botton the map is recreated in
a new browser window.
Another functionality of the applet is the possibility to query the
attributes of a layer: Simply click on a layer on the right and then
somewhere on the map. A new window will appear with the attributes. Try the
same selecting other layers of your map.

Everybody is welcome to participate to the system!
To do so, go to

http://soda.jrc.it

Once you are registered, the system allows you to upload your geographic
data, which can be a georeferenced GIF-image, an ArcView Shapefile or a link
to an existing OpenGIS WMT compatible database. Note that the projection has
to be lat/lon-grid (cylindrical equidistant) to be compatible with the other
geographic resources. Once uploaded the data to SoDa your data will be
automatically OpenGIS WMT compatibel and also it will appear as one of the
available databases in http://opengis.jrc.it. The databases are classifed by
category. A registered user can also create new categories ("folders").
The SoDa system uses the Mapserver Software to interface the geographic data
to the web. Thanks to the hint of Stephen Lime it now also supports querying
attributes.

Michael
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Michael Kleih
Centro Comune di Ricerca-JRC
Commissione Europea
Via Fermi 1
TP 270
Tel. 0039/0332785039

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