a mapserver framework for flexibility

[P Kishor]

I would like to submit an alternative MapServer framework -- it is
called Google Maps. I have been putting together an application, the
very alpha version of which can be seen at
<http://ecoservices.eidesis.org>

The stuff on my webserver, aka the "backend", is Perl and SQLite using
the most excellent CGI::Application framework for creating websites,
the geodata other than Google's maps, aka the "sideend", is our
beloved MapServer, and the interface, aka the "frontend", is Google's
MAP API.

There is a rich set of tools and techniques published for public
consumption, and for the most part, Google does the hard work for me
creating all this so I don't have to re-invent the wheel. In the best
example of laziness, I just choose and put it all together.

The MapServer works with the least of embellishments and accoutremets.
It just serves data as WMS services using pure CGI.

Of course, one downside is that Google could go belly-up tomorrow and
its mapping services would be shut down. I can live with that risk.

On 12/8/06, Neil Best <nbest at forestone.com> wrote:
> Hi, Bob.  Thanks for your note.  The choice of authentication is wide
> open at this point.  We just need to have basic user/password functions
> and some concept of groups so that access to data can be controlled by
> organization.  Why do you ask?
>
> I have not looked at Mambo.  Have you?  Tell me about your project.  Is
> there anything online I can check out?
>
> Creation and maintenance of the layers is crucial, but would be handled
> internally so the interface would not need to be as slick as that
> presented to customers.  I believe that Mapbender, for example, uses OGC
> services exclusvely but assumes that those services are all set up, i.e.
> no features for creating those layers AFAICT, which is okay.  We could
> set them up by hand at first and eventually build a back-end app, perhaps.
>
> Neil
>
>
> Bob Basques wrote:
> > Neil,
> >
> > Can you describe more of the authentication process you would like to use.
> >
> > Are you planning on implementing the Authentication in the Mambo
> > environment?
> >
> > I have a new project that might fit your bill.  But alas there's not
> > much documentation put together for it yet.
> >
> > The layer aspects are all configured separately.  Each layer is managed
> > separately by it's respective owner and accessed separately by the
> > Client.  The General idea was to place control and upkeep of the data in
> > the hands of the data creators and not bother the system admins with
> > work related to updating and maintaining the datasets.
> >
> > bobb
> >
> >
> > Neil Best wrote:
> >
> >> [ I encountered some of kind of glitch while trying to submit this
> >> through the web interface, that's why the empty item from me.  I
> >> wanted to include an old item that aligned  well with my agenda and
> >> that seemed like the obvious way, but I ended up doing it with good
> >> old cut and paste after all. ]
> >>
> >> Eduardo, I found your note to mapserver-users while searching the
> >> archive for any sign that others have been down this path before.
> >> That was some time ago and I'm not sure I can do a good job of finding
> >> other related threads since then, but what you describe sounds very
> >> similar to the task that I have recently taken on, to find a web
> >> mapping framework based on open source tools that maximizes leverage
> >> of existing code while providing extensibility, maintainability, and
> >> scalability.  This application will provide access to specific data
> >> subsets and analysis tools under a subscription model to a diverse
> >> group of users so by definition user profiles will drive the content
> >> and client-side tools presented by the application.  This entails far
> >> more than just slapping together some layers and putting a map on the
> >> web, plus it needs to happen *fast* so building a web site from
> >> scratch is not an option.  To these ends I will be evaluating a small
> >> set of packages after conducting a brief survey of Mapserver-based
> >> projects in general, including but not limited to:
> >>
> >> Cartoweb     http://www.cartoweb.org/
> >> Mapbender    http://www.mapbender.org/
> >> PrimaGIS     http://www.primagis.fi/
> >>
> >> I have been studying these projects in web space and have started
> >> evaluating them in user/admin space and have already begun to form my
> >> own opinions and impressions.  It would be great to hear from members
> >> of the community who have insight into these issues and learn from
> >> their experiences.  Maintainers and contributors to whichever
> >> framework(s) meet my basic needs while demonstrating that additional
> >> features can be developed rapidly and efficiently can expect to hear
> >> from me in the near future soliciting proposals for a range of
> >> services from client-side functionality to back-end integration and
> >> management of data services, development efforts that could and should
> >> make their way back to the code base of their respective projects.  If
> >> you are still reading then you must be interested, so drop me a line!
> >> Whether on- or off-list is up to you, but any comments at all are
> >> welcome.  My employer is very serious about this so I earnestly hope
> >> that this will generate some traffic and enthusiasm.
> >>
> >> Sincerely,
> >>
> >> Neil Best <nbest at forestone.com>
> >> Forest One, Inc.
> >> http://www.forestone.com/
> >>
> >>
> >> On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 21:45:11 -0300, Eduardo Patto Kanegae
> >> <lists at WEBMAPIT.COM.BR> wrote:
> >>
> >>  >Hi folks,
> >>  >
> >>  >I'm currently looking for a MapServer *framework* to build MapScript
> >>  >applications inside another application : MamboServer.
> >>  >
> >>  >Just to clarify, MamboServer ( www.mamboserver.com ) is a free CMS
> >>  >software written in PHP and have a lot of great features.
> >>  >
> >>  >Now, we want to integrate MapServer inside Mambo as a mambo component.
> >>  >
> >>  >I was thinking to use Chameleon as preffered mapping framework, but is
> >>  >my suggestion right?
> >>  >
> >>  >Can I  do it? Or chameleon can just work alone? I mean, can I use
> >>  >Chameleon widgets to load MapFiles,
> >>  >draw maps but inside another PHP application? ( because, we need to
> >>  >validate user rights, etc...)
> >>  >
> >>  >another idea I was thinking about is to develop OGC maps, to be used
> >>  >with desktop applications (JUMP,uDig,ArcGIS OGC,...)
> >>  >and also a set of "mirror" maps  using NON-ogc access , to be used by
> >>  >PHP/MapScript applications. I was thinking in doing
> >>  >things this way to get some "speed" on web applications. But, is this
> >>  >really necessary? Or OGC maps should be enough
> >>  >to feed web MapServer clients and desktop clients?
> >>  >
> >>  >thanks in advance.
> >>  >
> >>  >best regards.
> >>  >
> >>  >--
> >>  >Eduardo Patto Kanegae
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
>


-- 
Puneet Kishor http://punkish.eidesis.org/
Nelson Inst. for Env. Studies, UW-Madison http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/
Open Source Geospatial Foundation https://edu.osgeo.org/
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