Web GIS Research Articles

Web GIS-Based Public Health Surveillance Systems: A Systematic Review

Web Geographic Information System (Web GIS) has been extensively and successfully exploited in various arenas. However, to date, the application of this technology in public health surveillance has yet to be systematically explored in the Web 2.0 era. We reviewed existing Web GIS-based Public Health Surveillance Systems (WGPHSSs) and assessed them based on 20 indicators adapted from previous studies. The indicators comprehensively cover various aspects of WGPHSS development, including metadata, data, cartography, data analysis, and technical aspects. Our literature search identified 58 relevant journal articles and 27 eligible WGPHSSs. Analyses of results revealed that WGPHSSs were frequently used for infectious-disease surveillance, and that geographical and performance inequalities existed in their development. The latest Web and Web GIS technologies have been used in developing WGPHSSs; however, significant deficiencies in data analysis, system compatibility, maintenance, and accessibility exist. A balance between public health surveillance and privacy concerns has yet to be struck. Use of news and social media as well as Web-user searching records as data sources, participatory public health surveillance, collaborations among health sectors at different spatial levels and among various disciplines, adaption or reuse of existing WGPHSSs, and adoption of geomashup and open-source development models were identified as the directions for advancing WGPHSSs.

Design of the Resources and Environment Monitoring Website in Kashgar

Despite the development of the web geographical information system (web GIS), many useful spatial analysis functions are ignored in the system implementation. As Kashgar is rich in natural resources, it is of great significance to monitor the ample natural resource and environment situation in the region. Therefore, with multiple uses of spatial analysis, resources and environment monitoring website of Kashgar was built. Functions of water, vegetation, ice and snow extraction, task management, change assessment as well as thematic mapping and reports based on TM remote sensing images were implemented in the website. The design of the website was presented based on database management tier, the business logic tier and the top-level presentation tier. The vital operations of the website were introduced and the general performance was evaluated.

A web GIS based integrated flood assessment modeling tool for coastal urban watersheds

Urban flooding has become an increasingly important issue in many parts of the world. In this study, an integrated flood assessment model (IFAM) is presented for the coastal urban flood simulation....

Change Detection Using Mappable Vegetation Related Indices A Case Study from Sinharaja Forest Reserve

This study evaluates multi-year changes of vegetation in the Sinharaja forest reserve usingmappable vegetation related indices viz., Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)and Burn Index (BI). Land-cover changes in the Sinharaja forest reserve region are detectedusing Landsat 7 ETM+ images for 1993, 2001, and 2005. Seven individual bands of eachimage were converted to new multiband files by layer stacking using ENVI® 4.5. Then themultiband files were re-projected to UTM Zone 44 North, WGS-84 Datum. Each data set wasexported to ENVI® EX software package to detect the changes between time steps based onNDVI and BI using an image difference tool. Land-cover data, which were obtained from theDIVA GIS web portal were compared with Landsat image data. Results of BI showed that theforest reserve fringe was vulnerable to forest fire. For example, 1993- 2001 period 160 haidentified as burn area, while it was 79 ha in 2001-2005 and 10 ha for the entire period of1993-2005. NDVI resulted in a 962 ha increase of vegetation prime at the western Sinharajain 2001-2005 periods. In addition, a 15 ha decrease in vegetation for 1993-2005 periods. Theresults are visualized using an embedded 3D render window of Google Earth and 2D view ofArcGIS explorer online. In conclusion, in-situ ground truthing data for the fire-influencedarea is important to implement sustainable forest resource management at the Sinharaja forestreserve.

Web GIS Research and Application Based on SVG

In this paper we use the SVG technology to the field of Web GIS and set up the Traffic Accident Scene Management System (TASMS). Using text format characteristics of SVG, combined with ASP.NET technology and the scripting language JavaScript, we achieved dynamically load geographic information image, quick query and some user interaction functions.

Planning Local Public Transport: A Visual Support to Decision-making

This paper describes a visual tool for data analysis applied to a case in public transport. Our tool is based on geo-referenced dynamic maps, created with free Web GIS applications, and allows users to visualize data and interact readily with a large database of public transport service information. This tool will support decision-makers in detecting issues of inefficiency and ineffectiveness related to the public transport services of a given area. The paper focuses on the visualization system, its features, and its use, detailing the indicators utilized and the analyses it may be employed for.

Reviewing Efficiency and Effectiveness of Interurban Public Transport Services: A Practical Experience

This paper describes the methodology and the analysis tool developed for a study, carried out in 2012, aimed at the reorganisation of the interurban public transport services of the Piedmont region of Italy. Reorganization was necessary as a result of the reduction in funds allocated to public transport. We needed to work on a large dataset spanning different types of data, such as service provision, ridership, economic data, and geographical information. The size of the task warranted the effort to merge all those data into a single database and develop an analysis tool on purpose. Therefore we custom built a web-based visual analysis tool, using free web applications, including geo-referenced dynamic maps and allowing users to visualise and interact readily with the information in the database. This web GIS application was used to characterise public transport lines on the basis of combinations of indicators of interest (such as ridership, number of services and km produced by time unit), or on the basis of their characteristics (such as route overlaps, reference public administration, type of services, e.g. daily, for schoolchildren, market day only). Tables, charts and maps obtained from the web GIS were employed to compare the information we had with a set of criteria and identify instances of inefficiency or ineffectiveness of interurban public transport services.

A Realization of Power Cable Patrol System Based on GIS and 3G

The inspection of Power line is an important work to guarantee the electricity network's operation. At present, using the paper files - heavy workload, low efficiency - is the main method in power line inspection. This paper presents a real-time power patrol management system based on GIS and 3G. This system build a Patrol Management website based on Web GIS, administrator could complete the management task on the web. Otherwise, the system use PDA as the patrol terminal, which installed software developed based on Embedded GIS, Mobile Database and GPS. GPS and GIS spatial query technology can replace the Bar Code, Information Button and RFID technology, to supervise and query in inspection work. This is more than reduce the hardware requirements of the patrol terminal, also greatly improves the automation and intelligent level of inspection work. In addition, the WCDMA standard PDA could upload real-time video in support of high-speed mobile communications network, manager can see live. This is more conducive to management, to assist and to supervise the inspection work. the basis of the above study, we use the WCDMA mobile communication network to further improve the efficiency of data exchange in the inspection process, combined with the Embedded GIS and embedded database auxiliary patrol officers. And even the introduction of the video call feature management center to keep abreast of the inspection site and guidance patrol officers to respond to unexpected situations. On the other hand, the use of Web GIS technology and Web-based management approach to make management more convenient, intuitive management the inspection task (7).

Research on Energy Decision System Based on Network Technology

This paper analyzes the C/S structure and B/S structure of their own characteristics, building energy decision support system based on network technology, elaborated Web GIS and database connections and other technical principles and applications. Mixed B/S structure mode development to achieve information management, energy consumption is forecast to show the query using the amount of energy, energy supply and demand dynamic equilibrium analysis and other functions, with simple, efficient, easy to operate and so on, and has good scalability and maintainability.

Stock Aggregation Model and Virtual Archetype for Large Scale Retro-fit Modelling of Local Authority Housing in Ireland

Developing representative archetypes using a bottom up approach for stock modelling is an excellent tool for evaluating the overall performance of the building stock; however it requires detailed analysis of the various building types. Currently there is no detailed housing data base for Local Authority housing in Cork City, Ireland that catalogues the housing stocks geometric properties and thermal characteristics for each typology. This study details a methodology to catalogue the LAH stock and build a detailed housing data base. The GIS web based mapping application Google Street View is used to identify 20 house typologies across 36 LAH developments; a total of 10,449 housing units are counted and information subdivided into end of terrace, mid terrace, semi-detached, orientation and elevation. The data base provides the base line assessment for building a stock aggregation model; the stock aggregation approach is used as a method to evaluate the energy performance of the building stock, beginning with analysis of individual house types; referred to as a ‘bottom up approach’.4 representative archetypes are produced and modelled using DEAP simulation software. A 6% variation is recorded when compared to an averaged 121 registered BER results from LAH in Cork City. A full estimation of total energy use and CO2 is recorded for 10,449 units resulting in 211 GWh/y and 35,477 GtCO2/y. Investment in retro-fit is highly justified in this area with large potential for reducing CO2 emissions, the number of fuel poverty sufferers and victims of seasonal mortality due to thermally inefficient homes. The study suggests the method applied has scalable potential and is modular in structure facilitating wider adaption.

Management System of Transmission Line Passage Protection Based on Web Map Service

To improve the management level of latent troubles that perhaps happened in transmission line passage, a transmission line passage protection system (TLPPS) based on web map service is developed in this paper. In this system whose structure is selected as B/S, Baidu Maps API is creatively used to construct the Web GIS platform and its network database is built by Microsoft SQL Server 2005. Android mobile APP by Java is designed to exchange latent troubles information with network database. The system can achieve latent troubles information real-time uploaded, displayed on map, queried and other management of the entire process.

Web 2.0 and Neogeography. Opportunities for teaching geography

This paper is focused on the use of the geographical contents in Web 2.0 applications for didactics and particularly as a valuable source for many of the operations traditionally carried out when working with geographical data and issues in a GIS environment. The paper represents an introductory examination of to date well known topics concerning geographical data and software but with the focus of using them for teaching geographical issues and introducing them for the use of (online) Geographic Information tools. In particular it will be pointed out how geographical questions can be raised and tackled by means of data and features spread over the web and containing geographical data. There is also an analysis of how they can be elaborated cartographically. The paper opens with a short introduction to the geographical “revolutions” that took place in the late XX and early XXI centuries in the digital age, with the advent of GIS and the so-called neogeography. A brief review on how GIS and geospatial technologies in general can be effectively used to disseminate geographical issues follows. The attention is then focused on an exercise, that can be proposed to geography students, or that is, the analysis of the Italian 2013 general election. The exercise foresees the use of geocoded tweets from Twitter, the popular social media, and some of the hashtags used in the pre-election periods (#elezioni2013) to observe their concentrations. The exercise also implies working with a free web GIS service such as GeoCommons, which together with other families of similar online software, make it possible to produce maps showing some thematic representations of the results obtained as well as analyzing the data with more than basic visualization functions.

Design of a standardized geo-database for risk monitoring of potentially polluting marine sites

An increasing availability of geospatial marine data provides an opportunity for hydrographic agencies to contribute to the identification of potentially polluting marine sites (PPMS). This new acronym has been created not only to refer to shipwrecks of modern vessels, but also for other types of marine sites such as dumping areas, pipelines, etc. Independent of the specific type, a PPMS represents a potential source of pollution for the marine environment. Although several type-specific databases are available worldwide (from local to global scale), there is an evident lack of uniformity (e.g., different aims of data collection). A common approach description of these sites at local single-site level may permit aggregation for multi-scale decisions, e.g., for remediation and incident response. To adequately manage these sites, a standardized PPMS geospatial database (GeoDB) application has been designed to collect relevant information suitable for site inventory and geo-spatial analysis. In particular, benefits in structuring the data in conformance with the Universal Hydrographic Data Model (IHO S-100) and encoding using the Geographic Markup Language (GML) are presented. A possible practical storage solution is proposed using a GML-enabled spatial relational database management system. Finally, a Web GIS deployment is illustrated, being the simplest way to communicate to the public the collected information, with the related possibility of using the data as a Web Map Service in almost any GIS, allowing for better development and integration with other available datasets. The adoption of the PPMS GeoDB product specification as part of the IHO S-100 series would represent an innovative and important contribution from the hydrographic community to reduce, or at least better manage, environmental and economic risks related to PPMSs.

A web GIS based integrated flood assessment modeling tool for coastal urban watersheds

Urban flooding has become an increasingly important issue in many parts of the world. In this study, an integrated flood assessment model (IFAM) is presented for the coastal urban flood simulation. A web based GIS framework has been adopted to organize the spatial datasets for the study area considered and to run the model within this framework. The integrated flood model consists of a mass balance based 1-D overland flow model, 1-D finite element based channel flow model based on diffusion wave approximation and a quasi 2-D raster flood inundation model based on the continuity equation. The model code is written in MATLAB and the application is integrated within a web GIS server product viz: Web Gram Server™ (WGS), developed at IIT Bombay, using Java, JSP and JQuery technologies. Its user interface is developed using open layers and the attribute data are stored in MySQL open source DBMS. The model is integrated within WGS and is called via Java script. The application has been demonstrated for two coastal urban watersheds of Navi Mumbai, India. Simulated flood extents for extreme rainfall event of 26 July, 2005 in the two urban watersheds of Navi Mumbai city are presented and discussed. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of the flood simulation tool in a web GIS environment to facilitate data access and visualization of GIS datasets and simulation results.

Design and Implementation of Surrounding Transaction Plotting and Management System Based on Google Map API

Abstract. With China’s rapid economic development and comprehensive national strength growing, Border work has become a long-term and important task in China’s diplomatic work. How to implement rapid plotting, real-time sharing and mapping surrounding affairs has taken great significance for government policy makers and diplomatic staff. However, at present the already exists Boundary information system are mainly have problems of Geospatial data update is heavily workload, plotting tools are in a state of serious lack of, Geographic events are difficult to share, this phenomenon has seriously hampered the smooth development of the border task. The development and progress of Geographic information system technology especially the development of Web GIS offers the possibility to solve the above problems, this paper adopts four layers of B/S architecture, with the support of Google maps service, uses the free API which is offered by Google maps and its features of openness, ease of use, sharing characteristics, highresolution images to design and implement the surrounding transaction plotting and management system based on the web development technology of ASP.NET, C#, Ajax. The system can provide decision support for government policy makers as well as diplomatic staff’s real-time plotting and sharing of surrounding information. The practice has proved that the system has good usability and strong real-time.

A Web GIS Application of Desertification Status of Ruoergai Area

This paper described a web GIS application of desertification status of Ruoergai area based on Google Maps. Desertification data were categorized as types, degrees, area of land desertification. Each category was classified/defined based on former research. The system was implemented based on detailed design by employing technologies such as Google Map API, data cache and struts2, etc. Application of the system proved to be applicable for demonstration of desertification status of Ruoergai area.

Design and Implementation of Freeway Infrastructure Safety and Emergency Management System

As an important content of freeway safety management, the freeway infrastructure safety and emergency management system can bring great social effect. In this article, a comprehensive freeway infrastructure safety and emergency management system was built by following steps: firstly, research significance, research status and the paper framework were illustrated. Secondly, in allusion to five kinds of transportation infrastructure: pavement, bridge, tunnel, side slope and ancillary facility, the existing infrastructure testing indexes were summarized, and the relations between traffic safety and these testing indexes were quantified. Thirdly, according to the different characteristic of five kinds of infrastructures, comprehensive safety evaluation models were proposed in order to evaluate the safety of freeway infrastructure. Fourthly, the system of emergency management and emergency plans were expounded. Finally, the system software was developed on the base of research about system framework, database system and Web GIS technology. This system has strong practicability, which can compensate for the deficiencies of the infrastructure detection in the past and provide a new informationalized management platform for freeway management.

Development of a web application for water resources based on open source software

This article presents research and development of a prototype web application for water resources using latest advancements in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), open source software and web GIS. The web application has three web services for: (1) managing, presenting and storing of geospatial data, (2) support of water resources modeling and (3) water resources optimization. The web application is developed using several programming languages (PhP, Ajax, JavaScript, Java), libraries (OpenLayers, JQuery) and open source software components (GeoServer, PostgreSQL, PostGIS). The presented web application has several main advantages: it is available all the time, it is accessible from everywhere, it creates a real time multi-user collaboration platform, the programing languages code and components are interoperable and designed to work in a distributed computer environment, it is flexible for adding additional components and services and, it is scalable depending on the workload. The application was successfully tested on a case study with concurrent multi-users access.

Prototype of a Real-Time System for Earthquake Damage Estimation in Japan

J-RISQ, a real-time system for earthquake damage estimation, was developed provide information by combining amplification characteristic data for subsurface ground accumulated in the course of the development of the Japan Seismic Hazard Information Station (JSHIS), basic information on population and buildings, methods for predicting ground motion, methods for assessing building damage, and strong motion data observed by K-NET and KiK-net in real-time. J-RISQ estimates spatial ground motion distribution from seismic intensity information sent at different timing for observation stations, estimates population exposure to seismic intensity and building damage using estimated ground motion as input, and provides information to users via Web browser or email using Web GIS. J-RISQ estimation is based on intensity data obtained at different timing to ensure recency by updating results when it receives new data and updates results when it receives estimation results. J-RISQ provides and collects information using questionnaires from users on actual motion and damage situations. We have operated the system on trial from 2010 and estimated over 500 earthquakes in real-time. As a result, the system provides the first report 30 seconds after it receives intensity information at a certain level or larger, thus showing sufficient performance from the perspective of providing immediate information.

Design and Implementation of E-Government Platform Based on Web GIS and Cloud Computing

E-government presents a tremendous opportunity to provide higher quality, and cost-effective government services as well as creating a better relationship between citizens and government. The use of Web GIS makes the sharing and applying traditional GIS being possible. Web GIS provides integrated geo-spatial information and services to users and decision support for the government's macro decision-making. However, the current condition of huge initial capital investment in ICT equipment and IT labor does not change. As Cloud Computing enables sharing of resources and costs across a large pool of users while providing on-demand services with dynamic scalability. E-government with cloud computing raises the utilization rate of resource and reduces the budget. In addition, if e-government system is moved to cloud computing environment, cloud computing can construct the system into a service platform which takes service as its core, realizing the transition of government function and promoting the upgrading of local industry and developing low carbon economy. For this reason this research aims to develop a comprehensive framework of support e-government platform, with a specific focus on the e-government system based on Web GIS and private cloud computing based on OpenStack.