[mapserver-users] To WFS, WMS or to WCS

[Bart van den Eijnden (OSGIS)]

Hi Sarel,

please cc the list since it might be useful for other people searching 
the archives one day.

1) AFAIK WMS server does not generate any images in the temp dir when 
using Mapserver in CGI mode. The WMS client in Mapserver does (so if you 
use remote WMS layers). I don't think WFS and WCS server store temporary 
images, but WFS client will store the file.

2) yes, you can use the same MAP file, see the OGC web services workshop.

3) it is not different, it just means the output format differs (so GML 
for WFS instead of e.g. image/png for WMS), the source data can be the same.

4) I am unaware of any KML support in Mapserver at the moment.

Best regards,
Bart

Sarel Coetzer wrote:
>
> Thanks for the help Bart
>
>  
>
> Yes, I do have some questions.
>
>  
>
> -          WMS creates a lot of images in my temp folder (I have a 
> batch files cleaning this out regularly ), does WCS/WFS create any 
> temp images?
>
> -          Would one mapfile be able to host all tree services?
>
> -          For my MS WMS am thinking about using the FWTools to export 
> my postGIS layers from server to client (clients format choice 
> shpfile,mapinfo or kml), how would WCS or WFS handle this differently?
>
> -          Last one (sorry!)  What type of service does KMLMapsever 
> require, I have tried spitting out KML but I get an error in Google 
> earth saying it has lost the network connection.
>
>  
>
>  
>
> Many thanks
>
>
> Regards
> Sarel
>
>
>
> On Tue, May 13, 2008 at 10:27 AM, Bart van den Eijnden (OSGIS) 
> <bartvde at osgis.nl <mailto:bartvde at osgis.nl>> wrote:
>
>     Hi Sarel,
>
>     I can probably explain it in a few sentences.
>
>     WMS is a web mapping service, so it is meant to render an image of
>     data, be it vector or raster data. It only gives you back an image
>     representation of your data.
>     WFS is a web feature service, it is meant to deliver the features
>     (in vector format) to the client, so the "raw" data. The vector
>     format is mostly GML (Geography Markup Language).
>     WCS is a web coverage service, it is the raster version of WFS, so
>     to deliver raster coverages in a "raw" format to the client.
>
>     If you only need images and a query on a point click, stick with
>     WMS. If you need your users to actually download data, you will
>     need WFS + WCS.
>
>     There is also a thing called SLD WMS (Styled Layer Descriptor),
>     where the WMS client can change the symbology of the map, and get
>     an image back in different colors/patterns etc. than the default
>     one advertized by the service.
>
>     Hope this helps. If you have further specific questions, don't
>     hesitate to ask.
>
>     Best regards,
>     Bart
>
>     Sarel Coetzer wrote:
>
>         Hi
>
>         Is there anywhere a brief explanation of the deferent types of
>         map services such as WFS, WMS and WCS.
>         What each service does differently then the other and how to
>         identify which one would be the correct service to use for a
>         specific application.
>         I have read the various how to's on the wiki but I am trying
>         to find a one page comparison of capabilities/advantages or
>         disadvantages of these various services.
>
>
>         Regards
>         Sarel
>
>         Regards
>         Sarel
>
>         -- 
>         "http://sarelgis.blogspot.com/"
>         ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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>          
>
>
>
>     -- 
>     Bart van den Eijnden
>     OSGIS, Open Source GIS
>     bartvde at osgis.nl <mailto:bartvde at osgis.nl>
>     http://www.osgis.nl
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> "http://sarelgis.blogspot.com/" 


-- 
Bart van den Eijnden
OSGIS, Open Source GIS
bartvde at osgis.nl
http://www.osgis.nl