The spatial data integration and analysis with China Geo-Explorer

Abstract

With great volumes of geospatial data and data from different fields distributed across Internet, the sharing and utilization of these data have presented great challenges for research and application in Geographical Information Science. Moreover, the new concepts and technologies of Web 2.0 represent new user demands for user-oriented interaction, and collaboration. There is an emerging need to provide users with an integrated tool for spatial exploration, and spatial analysis in supporting common advanced needs from multiple disciples of research and application. This paper introduced China Geo-Explorer - a new web based platform with advanced functions for spatial data integration, data selection, data analysis, and data service for research, education and decision support as a joint effort by the China Data Center at the University of Michigan, Wuhan University and All China Marketing Research. It demonstrated how space-time data of different formats and sources can be integrated, visualized, and reported in a web based system. Due to its flexibility in architecture, interoperability in data sharing, rich experience in user interaction, and deeper consideration in promoting spatial analysis, it was suitable for kinds of applications from various domains. Some case studies in disaster assessment, environment, health, and regional development as the application of the system were discussed.