Data, Analysis, Spatial, Code, Running, Boston
FYI, one of the remote servers I connect to for some of my WMS based mash-ups is down. Some pages, like the Dual Maps, and the Transparency Sliders won’t work correctly. I’ll change the data sources to get them back up asap.
This doesn’t help my Defense of the WMS argument…
Dangnabbit…
Update – The dual maps, and single map example is back up. I’ll get the transparency pages updated later.
Earlier this week James Fee, celebrity GIS blogger (seriously, how many other GIS bloggers can you name), posted a blog about the death of the WMS. He was commenting on a blog from Sophia Parafina, who was discussing the difficulties of working with the WMS URL. Surprisingly enough, this isn’t the first time someone has shared their “love” of the WMS standard.
If you have programmed using a WMS you probably have become frustrated when trying to understand what each component of the URL means, the differences between the different versions, and how different GIS server software handles the WMS. I don’t think the WMS is dead, but its use may need to be reevaluated. For example, the WMS servers that I take advantage of tend to have few datasets (less than 30) served from them, and I only use raster datasets, such as historical maps, or aerial photography, in my applications. I try to avoid large WMS servers with 100s of layers, and I rarely use vector from them, because I don’t like wait times with large WMS servers, and vector data renders poorly.
I like to use WMS data from a number of different sources as base maps for use in Google map mash-ups. I’ve found that using the WMS for this purpose equals fast response times in an easy to use interface. Now, what about decoding the URL? Well, it took a couple of hours of trial and error but a few lines of javascript can read the WMS URL pretty easily. I didn’t create the code myself, but like any programmer, I definitely had help from a number of different online sources.
Here are a few Google Maps V3 API examples running WMS data:
ArcGIS Server WMS in Google Maps
Open Layers WMS in Google Maps
Microsoft Research Maps in Google Maps
Multiple WMS Service in a Single Site
Large Aerial Photography Datasets
That’s all for today! Hooray weekend!
p.s., For my next post I’ll try to have a couple of pictures. People hate reading.
We have all been there. You are in the middle of some process using ArcGIS 10, trying to finish a project for a deadline, and one of two things happen: the hour glass starts to run and never stops, or your ArcGIS screen just disappears and you get the “oh no, something broke” window to report an error (which you never do).
AAAAHHHH!
Since ArcGIS 10’s debut back in June I’ve read and heard a number of opinions (many times unsolicited) about the latest release and subsequent service pack. As you can imagine some reviews are glowing, and some are not so great. When I do a quick Google search for “ArcGIS 10 Review” very few results appear that aren’t from Esri themselves.
Now when I do a Google search for “esri arcgis 10 stinks” or “esri arcgis 10 sucks” the results are much more, let’s say, robust. Three message boards really stuck out and can be found here, here, and here.
When reading though these message boards you must read them with a grain of salt. First of all, people will complain about anything and everything. Second, many complaints have nothing to do with the software itself, but with user error or machine problems.
I also believe that many users are intimidated by GIS software and when something goes wrong they may get the urge to post insane comments with poor grammar because they are frustrated with something that may be out of their control. I can understand where some of these people are coming from, but ArcGIS really isn’t a beginner’s software. I’ve been using Ersi’s software for over eight years and I learn something new all the time.
Yes, ArcGIS 10 has its share of problems. Yes, ArcGIS 10 probably isn’t the best piece of software for beginners or light users of GIS. I do believe if you are a high end user working with large datasets or you need to perform some serious GIS analysis ArcGIS is a strong tool that I would recommend.
It could be worse for Esri, they could be SQL Server, Oracle, or Visual Studio.
And for the record, I like ArcGIS 10, especially ArcGIS Server 10.
Well, that is my two cents. What has your experience with ArcGIS 10 been like? Did you have to revert back to 9.3.1? Do you post insane comments on GIS message boards when you are having a tough GIS day? If so let me know.
GISDoctor.com is back up and running after a few technical difficulties (mostly me just messing around with the code). I’ve changed a few link names and reorganized some pages. I have also set the site up as a blog, which will enable me to update the site more frequently.
Let me know what you think. Comments are welcome.
Notice something new, and exciting?
You should!
If you have been to my site before you have either been looking for information regarding Google Map Mash-ups or information about earning a Ph.D. in a GIS related field. Well, you can see I changed things up a bit. I still have the information about GIS programing and a ton of code relating to Google Map Mash-ups, but I have incorporated the site as a blog. I feel this format will let me provide more information about a number of geospatially-related topics.
I’ll try to post once or twice a week. My posts will be on a number of topics that concern those of us who perform geospatial analysis day-to-day.