Advantage WFS vs. WMS

[Bart van den Eijnden (OSGIS)]

Kai,

firstly keep in mind that WMS and WFS serve different purposes. WFS can get
you to the real data, WMS can only get you images of your data, and
something called getfeatureinfo can get you to do a query on a point clicked
in the map.

With respect to your list, I don't agree with all of your points.

WFS, i.e. the GML coming from a WFS, is also often symbolized using SLD. So
there is not much difference there. With Mapserver you can define CLASSes on
a CONNECTIONTYPE WFS layer, but a lot of OGC clients use SLD to style WFS
layers.

Highlight can be done with WMS as well, no problem there. You can just
create a SLD with a Filter in there. 

Even a tooltip on a mouseover could theoretically be done with WMS
(GetFeatureInfo), but the performance will probably be insufficient. So
having a WFS and getting the data within the map extent using a BBOX filter
will probably be the way to go for a tooltip layer.

Best regards,
Bart

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


--------- Oorspronkelijk bericht --------
Van: Kai Behncke <kbehncke at IGF.UNI-OSNABRUECK.DE>
Naar: MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU <MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU>
Onderwerp: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] Advantage WFS vs. WMS
Datum: 29/01/07 05:24

> Hello list,
> 
> I would like to know what the advantages of WFS in comparison to WMS are?
> 
> Some aspects are quite clear:
> 
> -It`s easier to design a WFS than a WMS. The way with SLD is not
necessary.
> 
> - Poissibility to analyze and select WFS-Features with Filters (at WMS
just a
> spatial analyze with BBOX is possible)
> 
> - Tooltip-possibility
> 
> - Highlighfunction
> 
> Does anybody know other advantages WFS gives in comparison to WMS?
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you, Kai 
> 
> --
> Dipl.-Geogr. Dipl.-Umweltwiss. Kai Behncke
> 
> Institut für Geoinformatik und Fernerkundung (IGF)
> Universität Osnabrück
> Kolpingstr. 7
> 49074 Osnabrück
> 
> Raum: 01/308
> Tel.: +49 541 969-4450
> E-Mail: mailto:kbehncke at igf.uni-osnabrueck.de 
> Web:  http://www.igf.uni-osnabrueck.de
> 
>