Evolution of GIS Technologies in a Web 2.0 World Paul Swenson [email_address] University of Maryland, Baltimore County Department of Computer Science CMSC691S – Social Web Technologies

Background

Introduction to GIS Geographic Information System Wikipedia defines as: “Any system for capturing, storing, analyzing, and managing data and associated attributes which are spatially referenced to Earth.” Where did GIS come from? Idea has been around for some ~15,500 years.

Geographic Information System

Wikipedia defines as: “Any system for capturing, storing, analyzing, and managing data and associated attributes which are spatially referenced to Earth.”

Where did GIS come from?

Idea has been around for some ~15,500 years.

Heritage of Modern GIS London Cholera outbreak in 1854 Dr. John Snow created this map in an attempt to isolate what was infecting all the people First recorded use of modern geographic (and mash-up) principles

London Cholera outbreak in 1854

Dr. John Snow created this map in an attempt to isolate what was infecting all the people

First recorded use of modern geographic (and mash-up) principles

Evolution of GIS Systems 1962: Creation of first modern GIS computer system, CGIS 1964: Harvard Laboratory begins development general-purpose mapping software (SYMAP) 1969: ESRI founded, inspired by Harvard’s software 1982: ESRI releases ARC/INFO 1992: ESRI releases ArcView

1962: Creation of first modern GIS computer system, CGIS

1964: Harvard Laboratory begins development general-purpose mapping software (SYMAP)

1969: ESRI founded, inspired by Harvard’s software

1982: ESRI releases ARC/INFO

1992: ESRI releases ArcView

Relationship to Social Web Technologies The Geospatial Web is derived from modern GIS systems and databases GIS provides tantalizing material for which Web 2.0 developers can create mash-ups Social Web Folksonomy & Tagging Mashups Geospatial Web The Semantic Web Blogs Image courtesy of Prof. Harry Chen

The Geospatial Web is derived from modern GIS systems and databases

GIS provides tantalizing material for which Web 2.0 developers can create mash-ups

Research Efforts

Extending Traditional Wiki Systems with Geographical Content Research effort led by Dr. Piotr Gawrysiak of the Warsaw University of Technology, Poland Goal: GIS Data Store -> GeoWiki! Allow anyone to submit updates to the GIS vector data store Promotes more up-to-date data A GIS archive maintained using wiki principles would be completely free and open for anyone to use.

Research effort led by Dr. Piotr Gawrysiak of the Warsaw University of Technology, Poland

Goal: GIS Data Store -> GeoWiki!

Allow anyone to submit updates to the GIS vector data store

Promotes more up-to-date data

A GIS archive maintained using wiki principles would be completely free and open for anyone to use.

Intended Users of System Normal Users Should be similar to Google Maps, Mapquest, Yahoo Maps, etc. Tech-savvy users Perform edits to maps Access discussion pages Revert edits

Normal Users

Should be similar to Google Maps, Mapquest, Yahoo Maps, etc.

Tech-savvy users

Perform edits to maps

Access discussion pages

Revert edits

Benefits of System Data public domain (Free!) Able to instantly fix any inaccuracies Because content is user-generated, more people contributing so more content Peer + Automated review increases quality of data Very nice, how much? (Free!)

Data public domain (Free!)

Able to instantly fix any inaccuracies

Because content is user-generated, more people contributing so more content

Peer + Automated review increases quality of data

What kinds of technology used? Standard Web 2.0 Stuff DBMS backend AJAX Server-side scripting Client-side JavaScript Advanced Wiki collaborative features + revision management

Standard Web 2.0 Stuff

DBMS backend

AJAX

Server-side scripting

Client-side JavaScript

Advanced Wiki collaborative features + revision management

How do you use this application? Navigate to site of the GeoWiki Enter search address Choose to compute driving directions Click the Edit or Discussion buttons (ala Wikipedia) for advanced features Search for Points of Interest near destination or current map location OR: Download dump of GeoWiki GIS+POI database into handheld GPS unit for mobile navigation

Navigate to site of the GeoWiki

Enter search address

Choose to compute driving directions

Click the Edit or Discussion buttons (ala Wikipedia) for advanced features

Search for Points of Interest near destination or current map location

OR:

Download dump of GeoWiki GIS+POI database into handheld GPS unit for mobile navigation

Conclusions GIS is all about layers, and associating attributes to spatial data GIS is a key buzzword in the context of Social Web Technologies Serves as a backend for for geospatial web applications Provides content allowing for users to create new “layers” on top of publicly available GIS stores to create mashups The “wikification” of GIS Allows normal users to update inaccurate data and contribute new data Apply best features of Wikis to a GIS data archive

GIS is all about layers, and associating attributes to spatial data

GIS is a key buzzword in the context of Social Web Technologies

Serves as a backend for for geospatial web applications

Provides content allowing for users to create new “layers” on top of publicly available GIS stores to create mashups

The “wikification” of GIS

Allows normal users to update inaccurate data and contribute new data

Apply best features of Wikis to a GIS data archive

References "Geographic information system." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia . 21 April 2004. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 20 Mar. 2008. Pietroniro et al. “Map Mashups and the Rise of Amateur Cartographers and Mapmakers.” ACMLA Bulletin . Number 127. Pages 26-30. Fabrikant et. al. “Geospatial Information Bottom-Up: A Matter of Trust and Semantics.” Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography . Part 9. 2007. Pages 365-387. Gawrysiak et. al. “Extending Traditional Wiki Systems with Geographical Content.” Project E-Society: Building Bricks . Volume 226. 2008. Pages 292-302. Sui, D. “The wikification of GIS and its consequences: Or Angelina Jolie’s new tattoo and the future of GIS.” Computers, Environment and Urban Systems . Volume 32, Issue 1. Jan. 2008. Pages 1-5.

"Geographic information system." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia . 21 April 2004. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 20 Mar. 2008.

Pietroniro et al. “Map Mashups and the Rise of Amateur Cartographers and Mapmakers.” ACMLA Bulletin . Number 127. Pages 26-30.

Fabrikant et. al. “Geospatial Information Bottom-Up: A Matter of Trust and Semantics.” Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography . Part 9. 2007. Pages 365-387.

Gawrysiak et. al. “Extending Traditional Wiki Systems with Geographical Content.” Project E-Society: Building Bricks . Volume 226. 2008. Pages 292-302.

Sui, D. “The wikification of GIS and its consequences: Or Angelina Jolie’s new tattoo and the future of GIS.” Computers, Environment and Urban Systems . Volume 32, Issue 1. Jan. 2008. Pages 1-5.

The End Any questions?