[GRASSLIST:2070] Re: GRASS v ESRI

[Richard Ford]

Well I have a copy (Paid) of both arcview and arcIMS.

They are nice - but ArcIMS - is so inflexible and only runs on NT - which is
a dog of a server OS.

I am playing with grass as we speak in the next window and I am sorta
getting used to it - remember I am an IT guy and not a GIS dude.  :)

I can't therefore evaluate what is a good program for "Stage one" as you
say.

However I do know that I am reluctant to use IMS for stage 2.

So Map server it may well be.  How easy does map server work on shape files
and the data in them.

What we would be after would be changing stuff like rain level, drainage,
roads, crop planting, etc....

I have to have a demo of grass working by 9:30 am tomorrow, it is 11:38 pm
right now here in Sydney so I had better start working on the GRASS install
on the server.  I am looking forward to then playing with the tools everyone
has mentioned.

I know nothing about GIS - don't like the outdoors except for sport - but
this is such an exciting change from accountancy and e-comemrce software!

Cya,
Richard.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ben-Nes Michael" <miki at canaan.co.il>
To: "Richard Ford" <grass at cubok.com>
Cc: "GrassList" <GRASSLIST at baylor.edu>
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 11:15 PM
Subject: Re: [GRASSLIST:2058] GRASS v ESRI


> I have a similar project upcoming, I need to build maps and show/query
them
> on the Internet.
> As im a newbie my self I divided the problem to two parts.
> 1. Create the maps
> 2. Show them on the internet.
>
> After long query with mailing lists, newsgroups, webs and even ESRI
meeting
> :) I realized that mapserver is best to show of information on the
internet.
>
> 1. Its free tool ( not like IMS that cost 10000$)
> 2. Its very simple tool after one understand the concept and what is a
SHAPE
> file
> 3. Its script is cross platform (perl/php)
> 4. because you can use perl/php ( your choice. I like php) the amount of
> flexibility is amazing. (We all know why :)
>
> I don't see how I can use Grass to create the maps, here are some reasons
> ( I wish I could use it :(
>
> 1. Grass can export SHAPE files but it don't work on them directly.
> 2. Because GRASS don't interact with the .dbf file every time I import or
> export to SHAPE file I have the problem of restoring or rearranging the
.dbf
> file
> 3. The new ArcView 8.x has much more reach edit tools then Grass which
make
> maps looks much more better and it much more easy to update\create.
>
> One bad side is that ArcView cost 2500 $ :(
> but still time cost much more money.
>
> list, If im wrong about what i understood about Grass please correct me.
>
> > Does everyone understand what I am on about?  :)
> >
> > The data has been put together and is working in ArcView(Info - whatever
I
> > forget!) and is good.  We need to web enable that.  We have tried
ArcIMS -
> I
> > assume it can read ArcInfo shape files and projects with a small
> > modification they mention in the docs.
> >
> > However we would want to do some custom stuff with PHP as well as not
use
> > NT!
> >
> > So in light of all the suggestions does there seem to be a link
anywhere?
> > With say starting in ArcInfo and then moving to --  ??
> >
> > Map server
> >
> > or
> >
> > CommonGIS
> >
> --------------------------
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> Internet Service Providers
> Ben-Nes Michael - Manager
> Tel: 972-4-6991122
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> --------------------------
>
>
>