map gps coordinates with CGI/ (java or Perl)

[Joel Thompson]

Thanks for the feedback. I really appreciate it alot.

By dynamically I meant that the CGI would some be given the
coordinates at runtime - either read from db, or passed as PARAMETERS
in CGI ... and so actually I don't need help in setting up that part.

What I would like to know is what is the best approach for dealing
with the list of Long/Lats??? 

1) Is it to create a MAP file w/ layers and features? OR
2) create a SHAPE file? OR
3) Is this kind of behavior already built into the MAP or MapServer
some how?
4) Are their tools that help with this sort of stuff? Like GRASS or
something else?
5) Also - I am having problems setting up the Perl MapScript env -
I can't get/find any directions on how to integrate the Perl modules into
MapServer - Yet Perl works from Apache as a plain-old-cgi env.
So I am wondering if I should attempt #1, or #2 in this CGI w/o the
perl map module? or should I keep attempting to get the Perl Module
integrated... (seemed straight forward, but not quite since I download
prebuilt MapServer for Windows 2k and can't rebuild to integrated 
PERL...sigh..)

Thanks Again!!

-- 

Joel A. Thompson
email: joel at rhinosystemsinc.com



P Kishor wrote:

> Joel,
>
> I don't have a specific suggestion for you, but I offer the following
> to think about... You asked --
>
>> > I'd like to map GPS lat/long coordinates dynamically through CGI
>
>
> First, what does "dynamically" mean?
>
> You will have to somehow transfer the lon/lat from the GPS to the
> computer that hosts MapServer. So, that is your first task.
>
> Then you will have to convert the lon/lat into x,y point features that
> MapServer can read. That is your second task.
>
> Then you will have to create an web app that refreshes every few
> seconds in order to be qualified as "dynamically." That is your final
> task.
>
> Your best bet might be to send the GPS stream into a PostGIS database,
> and set up a MapServer map file that reads that data source. Write an
> Ajax-y app that refreshes the map without touching the rest of the
> cruft, and you have a dynamic app.
>
> When you get it all hooked up and working, I would love to see it and
> happily plagiarize it ;-). Better yet, you can write up a nice how-to,
> and attach your app for the rest of us to benefit.
>
> Seriously, search the list archives. If I recall correctly, this kind
> of stuff has been asked, and done before.
>
> On 7/28/06, Joel Thompson <joel at rhinosystemsinc.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Guys - sorry to bug you again, but can someone give me some general
>> direction?
>>
>> 1) should I try to manipulate the map file directly through the CGI env?
>> If so, what would a sample map file look like to that showed, say Cities
>> and the lat/lon coordinates that I provide to show a route...?
>>
>> 2) Or do I have to use CGI (perl, php...etc.) w/ its API into the
>> MapScript to execute this some how? Not sure at all how to do this, so a
>> simple sample would be very helpful.
>>
>> 3) or is there some other CGI type tools that does this for me already?
>> IE. Just pass in a list of lat/lon pairs and it would map it out for me?
>>
>>
>> Thanks for you help... I really appreciate it,
>> Joel
>>
>> Joel Thompson wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > Hello,
>> >
>> > I'd like to map GPS lat/long coordinates dynamically through CGI
>> > (preferred JAVA,perl, php, in that order) - I am new to MapServer...
>> > Can you help me to get in the right direction with this? is there any
>> > add-on tools that do this? or is is just done through the .map w/ html
>> > template architecture... where the CGI is used to create the HTML 
>> file???
>> > Any samples would be nice... Thanks in advanced.
>> >
>> > -Joel
>>
>
>