This document discusses the development of a web-based map client to support crisis management and real-time editing of map content via a web browser. It aims to enable fire brigades to visualize and edit both spatial and attribute data in real-time for emergency response. The system was developed using Adobe Flex and the ArcGIS API for Flex to create a rich internet application with an editable web feature service. It was tested on desktops and mobile devices, working well on desktops but having issues on mobile browsers. Future directions discussed include migrating to HTML5 for better mobile device and browser support.

1. On-screen Editing of Map Content via Web
Browser in Real Time
Rostislav NÉTEK
InDOG, Olomouc | 14/10/2014

2. Aim and motivation
 Design and develop web map client
 Crisis management support
 Real purposes and real implementation
 Fire Brigade

3. Web 2.0 + WebGIS
MAIRO I. (2013) WebGIS 2.0 principles and overview.
http://italomairo.italomairo.com/en/content/gis-web-gis-20-principles-and-overview.
Rich Internet Application
+
Service-oriented Architecture
WebGIS 2.0

4. Rich Internet Application
 New generation of internet application
 General concept, not concrete technology
 AJAX, Silverlight, Openlaszlo, JavaFX, Flex, HTML5
 Brings the tools, practices and conventions from desktop
platform
 Fully web application
 Esthetical features 

5. RIA characteristics (+)
 Run in the Web browser (both online and offline)
 Combine properties from desktop applications into Web interface
 No installation process required
 Immediate feedback, refresh is not required
 Rich content (video, sound, animation, vectors, drag and drop,
keyboard navigation, ...)
 Platform independent
 Faster processing of requests
 Rich user interface
 Focus on esthetical impression
 Easy distribution and start-up
 Mobile applications are fully supported and available
 Open source
 Wide possibility of customization

6. RIA characteristics (-)

7.  Adobe/Apache Flex
 GIS ® Flex
 Runs in the same environment like Flash
 Flex is not Flash !
 Allows to create highly interactive
Web mapping applications
 Emphasis on desing

8. Service-oriented architecture (SOA)
 General approach
 Takes advantage from services
 Service provider - Service consumer
 Fully independent
 Interoperability
 OGC - standartization
 Web services:
 WMS, WFS,
 WCS, WPS, CSW
 KML…

9. SOA & web services
 „Remote“ access – data located in computer or server
are not required
 User can combines different layers from different
sources
 Centralization - Data are stored at one place
 Data are still updated
 Software and/or platform independent
 Only Web Browser required for visualisation
 Security
 Faster and more effective data management
 Reduction of financial costs

11. Transactional Web Feature Service (WFS-T)
 WFS provide geodata as vectors
 WFS enable visualization only
 Transaction – editation purposes
 Possibility of cascading
 Parameters
 GetFeatureWithLock
 insertFeature
 updateFeature
 deleteFeature

12. Application concept – „Smart“ client
 Open source solution by Esri
 Flex client
 ArcGIS Viewer for Flex (API)
 Additional WFS-T widget
 Enable „on-screen editing“ in real-time
 Via web browser
 Visualization, publication
 editing and deleting
 both spatial and attributes data

14.  http://rostanetek.cz/disertace

15. Testing
 Step 1 –Stress test on the desktop. 10 clients
simultaneously on 10 PCs , cable Internet connection. No
significant decrease of loading. 5.5 sec/+- 2 sec.
 Step 2 – Desktop with cable connection at the fire station
+ short discussion after relays…stable and intuitive. But
they did not use it during stress situation
 Step 3a – On mobile device with WiFi. Failed.
 Step 3b – Crack on Android tablet. WiFi, single client, no
significant decrease 12 sec/+-3.5 sec.

16. Done … ?
 And what about mobile devices (Android, iOS)…?

17. What next…?
Non-RIA Flex HTML5/JS
Mobile devices support Partially No Yes
Vector graphic
No Yes Yes
3D graphic No Partially Yes
Transparency Partially Yes Yes
Rounded borders Partially Yes Yes
jQuery effects Yes No Yes
Plugins & widgets Partially Yes Yes
Advanced editing No Yes Partially
Cache Yes Yes Yes
Cloud computing
support
No Yes Yes
 Comparison study
 Other platform -> HTML5
ArcGIS API for JavaScript
Leaflet

18. Not only crisis management…
This presentation is co-financed by the European Social Fund and the state budget of the Czech Republic.

19. Thank you for your attention
 rostislav.netek@upol.cz
 http://www.geoinformatics.upol.cz
 Palacký University in Olomouc, Czech Republic