[postgis-users] Mapping server with PostGIS+Mapserver?

[Rick Morris]

Hi all,

Looking for some pointers on feasibility and how to get started setting 
up a mapping server that could deliver views of streets & cities in the 
continental USA, based on coordinates+zoom level, image output size, etc...?

I am tasked with redeveloping a mapping system I did (see example at 
http://www.anisite.com/state.php?state=FL), which simply queries a 
remote mapping service via HTTP, but doing all my own calculations for 
distance, locations, etc... The mapping company is terminating this 
service, and I am interested in the possibility of rolling my own 
mapping service, rather than depending on yet another fickle vendor.

- Can PostGIS + Mapserver (http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/) provide a 
basis for doing this sort of work?
- Are the data for U.S. streets & cities freely available (from USGS, 
TIGER, etc...) or will I need to purchase datasets somewhere? (If so, 
where?)
- Even given that I am a competent PHP developer and PostgreSQL user, is 
this project likely to be worth the trouble, or should I just go back to 
shopping around for online mapping access vendors? (quite a headache to 
sort through the market-speak claims they all make, much less to get an 
actual *price* from anyone )

I much appreciate any feedback you can give.

Rick Morris