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Web/Cloud Based Mapping and Geoinformation

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A special issue of ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information (ISSN 2220-9964).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2017) | Viewed by 90911

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Bert Veenendaal

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Guest Editor

Department of Spatial Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
Interests: geographic information science; geospatial web mapping and services; geospatial analysis and data handling; collaborative GIS; virtual/interactive e-learning

Prof. Dr. Maria Antonia Brovelli

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Guest Editor

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, P.zza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, Building 3, 20133 Milano, Italy
Interests: geospatial web; geodata science; citizen science; open science; open data; open geospatial software; geospatial artificial intelligence
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Prof. Serena Coetzee

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Guest Editor

Geography Building 3-5, Centre for Geoinformation Science, Department Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
Interests: spatial data infrastructures; addressing; geographic information standards; geoprocessing; open source for geospatial software
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Dr. Peter Mooney

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Guest Editor

Department of Computer Science, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
Interests: volunteered geographic information (VGI); citizen science; geospatial data mining and knowledge extraction; free and open source software for geomatics (FOSS4G)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in the field of web- and cloud-based mapping and geoservices is increasing the demand for more, better, and smarter integrated geoinformation and knowledge to support a diversity of users and applications. Web mapping and web GIS have developed from a simple hyper-linked image, like the Xerox PARC map server, to a complex web of geospatial services and information feeding into online web maps and web GIS applications. The challenge is how to discover, integrate, manipulate and present this geoinformation at the appropriate level to users/applications in an environment that comprises GIS, mobile mapping, digital virtual globes, volunteered geographic information, sensor networks, etc.

As web- and cloud-based geoinformation and geoservices become easier to access by the global community of users, the increasing challenge is to focus the provision of information towards the context of users and applications. This means that we need to build on our knowledge and understanding of web and cloud based architectures, geoweb semantics and ontologies, geospatial analytics, big data parallel geoprocessing, multidimensional geovisualisation, collaborative virtual geospatial environments, dynamic contextualised behaviour, etc. The agenda is about providing the right information to the right people at the right time for the right decision.

Prof. Bert Veenendaal
Prof. Dr. Maria Antonia Brovelli
Dr. Serena Coetzee
Dr. Peter Mooney
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

cloud- and web-based multidimensional GIS
neogeography and map mashups; new cartographic theories and interfaces for web mapping
quality assessment of web-based geospatial information sources, processes and applications
design, development and evaluation of web and cloud based architectures, services and applications
development and use of virtual globes for geospatial data sharing, integration, visualization and analysis
mobile and location-based search and services; adaptive, context-aware, multidimensional, augmented reality
web/cloud-based SDSS, PPGIS, Geo-design and collaborative environments
web visualisation/assessment/analysis of user generated content
open source solutions and open standards/specifications
web-based geovisualisation and virtual geospatial environments for dynamics phenomena
security, privacy, copyright, use policy and usability for geospatial web
geospatial web semantics and ontology; intelligent web mapping/GIS services
web mapping/GIS for education
service chaining, streaming and web based geoprocessing workflows
web/cloud based geospatial data discovery, access and utilization
web/cloud based geospatial database management

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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3706 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Approach for Publishing Linked Open Geodata from National Registries with the Use of Semantically Annotated Context Dependent Web Pages

by Adam Iwaniak, Marta Leszczuk, Marek Strzelecki, Francis Harvey and Iwona Kaczmarek

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2017, 6(8), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi6080252 - 15 Aug 2017

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5004

Abstract

Many of the standards used to build spatial data infrastructure (SDI), such as Web Map Service (WMS) or Web Feature Service (WFS), have become outdated. They do not follow current web technology development and do not fully exploit its capabilities. Spatial data often remains available only through application programming interfaces (APIs), reflecting the persistence of organizational silos. The potential of the web for discovering knowledge hidden in data and discoverable through integration and fusion remains very difficult. This article presents a strategy to take advantage of these newer semantic web technologies for SDI. We describe the implementation of a public registry in the age of Web 3.0. Our goal is to convert existing geographic information systems (GIS) data into explicit knowledge that can be easily used for a variety of purposes. This turns SDI into a framework to utilize the many advantages of the web. In this paper we present the working prototype system developed for the province of Mazowieckie in Poland and describes the underlying concepts. Further development of this approach comes from using linked data (LD) with expert systems to support analysis functions and tasks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Web/Cloud Based Mapping and Geoinformation)

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6725 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Context from Open and Online Processing (SCOOP): Geographic, Temporal, and Thematic Analysis of Online Information Sources

by Colin Robertson and Kevin Horrocks

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2017, 6(7), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi6070193 - 26 Jun 2017

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6610

Abstract

The Internet is increasingly a source of data for geographic information systems, as more data becomes linked, available through application programing interfaces (APIs), and more tools become available for handling unstructured web data. While many web data extraction and structuring methods exist, there are few examples of comprehensive data processing and analysis systems that link together these tools for geographic analyses. This paper develops a general approach to the development of spatial information context from unstructured and informal web data sources through the joint analysis of the data’s thematic, spatial, and temporal properties. We explore the utility of this derived contextual information through a case study into maritime surveillance. Extraction and processing techniques such as toponym extraction, disambiguation, and temporal information extraction methods are used to construct a semi-structured maritime context database supporting global scale analysis. Geographic, temporal, and thematic content were analyzed, extracted and processed from a list of information sources. A geoweb interface is developed to allow user visualization of extracted information, as well as to support space-time database queries. Joint keyword clustering and spatial clustering methods are used to demonstrate extraction of documents that relate to real world events in official vessel information data. The quality of contextual geospatial information sources is evaluated in reference to known maritime anomalies obtained from authoritative sources. The feasibility of automated context extraction using the proposed framework and linkage to external data using standard clustering tools is demonstrated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Web/Cloud Based Mapping and Geoinformation)

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2673 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cloud-Based Architectures for Auto-Scalable Web Geoportals towards the Cloudification of the GeoVITe Swiss Academic Geoportal

by Ionuț Iosifescu-Enescu, Claudia Matthys, Charalampos Gkonos, Cristina M. Iosifescu-Enescu and Lorenz Hurni

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2017, 6(7), 192; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi6070192 - 25 Jun 2017

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 8378

Abstract

Cloud computing has redefined the way in which Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) and Web geoportals are designed, managed, and maintained. The cloudification of a geoportal represents the migration of a full-stack geoportal application to an internet-based private or public cloud. This work introduces two generic and open cloud-based architectures for auto-scalable Web geoportals, illustrated with the use case of the cloudification efforts of the Swiss academic geoportal GeoVITe. The presented cloud-based architectural designs for auto-scalable Web geoportals consider the most important functional and non-functional requirements and are adapted to both public and private clouds. The availability of such generic cloud-based architectures advances the cloudification of academic SDIs and geoportals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Web/Cloud Based Mapping and Geoinformation)

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6045 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Web-Based Visual and Analytical Geographical Information System for Oil and Gas Data

by Yuanchen Li, Bingjie Wei and Xin Wang

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2017, 6(3), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi6030076 - 9 Mar 2017

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 7359

Abstract

With the development of strategic oil and gas assets, massive spatiotemporal oil and gas data have been accumulated. Application systems that assist in the storage and management of the voluminous and complex oil and gas datasets are in high demand. The voluminous and various data should be leveraged and turned into information for business decision-making and operation assistance. In this paper, we propose a set of visual analytic methods that specialize in oil and gas data; and, we develop a web-based oil and gas data management, visualization and analytical system, called Oil and Gas Visual Exploration System (OGVES). With OGVES, complex and multi-sourced oil and gas data can be stored, searched, filtered, and represented. As a web-based system, the OGVES provides more accessibility, convenience and efficiency than traditional desktop systems. Spatial scales and temporal primitives contained in oil and gas data are discussed. Different visualization methods are then presented to explore and represent spatiotemporal features of the oil and gas data. Various case studies demonstrate the usability of the system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Web/Cloud Based Mapping and Geoinformation)

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5989 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Effective NoSQL-Based Vector Map Tile Management Approach

by Lin Wan, Zhou Huang and Xia Peng

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2016, 5(11), 215; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi5110215 - 12 Nov 2016

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 7698

Abstract

Within a digital map service environment, the rapid growth of Spatial Big-Data is driving new requirements for effective mechanisms for massive online vector map tile processing. The emergence of Not Only SQL (NoSQL) databases has resulted in a new data storage and management model for scalable spatial data deployments and fast tracking. They better suit the scenario of high-volume, low-latency network map services than traditional standalone high-performance computer (HPC) or relational databases. In this paper, we propose a flexible storage framework that provides feasible methods for tiled map data parallel clipping and retrieval operations within a distributed NoSQL database environment. We illustrate the parallel vector tile generation and querying algorithms with the MapReduce programming model. Three different processing approaches, including local caching, distributed file storage, and the NoSQL-based method, are compared by analyzing the concurrent load and calculation time. An online geological vector tile map service prototype was developed to embed our processing framework in the China Geological Survey Information Grid. Experimental results show that our NoSQL-based parallel tile management framework can support applications that process huge volumes of vector tile data and improve performance of the tiled map service. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Web/Cloud Based Mapping and Geoinformation)

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11983 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Generating Orthorectified Multi-Perspective 2.5D Maps to Facilitate Web GIS-Based Visualization and Exploitation of Massive 3D City Models

by Jianming Liang, Jianhua Gong, Jin Liu, Yuling Zou, Jinming Zhang, Jun Sun and Shuisen Chen

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2016, 5(11), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi5110212 - 11 Nov 2016

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 9128

Abstract

2.5D map is a convenient and efficient approach to exploiting a massive three-dimensional (3D) city model in web GIS. With the rapid development of oblique airborne photogrammetry and photo-based 3D reconstruction, 3D city models are becoming more and more accessible. 3D Geographic Information System (GIS) can support the interactive visualization of massive 3D city models on various platforms and devices. However, the value and accessibility of existing 3D city models can be augmented by integrating them into web-based two-dimensional (2D) GIS applications. In this paper, we present a step-by-step workflow for generating orthorectified oblique images (2.5D maps) from massive 3D city models. The proposed framework can produce 2.5D maps from an arbitrary perspective, defined by the elevation angle and azimuth angle of a virtual orthographic camera. We demonstrate how 2.5D maps can benefit web-based visualization and exploitation of massive 3D city models. We conclude that a 2.5D map is a compact data representation optimized for web data streaming of 3D city models and that geometric analysis of buildings can be effectively conducted on 2.5D maps. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Web/Cloud Based Mapping and Geoinformation)

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4864 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Implementation of a Robust Decision Support System for Marine Space Resource Utilization

by Jing Xie, Shuxiu Liang, Zhaochen Sun, Jiang Chang and Jianwen Sun

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2016, 5(8), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi5080140 - 8 Aug 2016

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5584

Abstract

Increasing coastal space resource utilization (CSRU) activities and their impact on coastal environments has been recognized as a critical coastal zone stressor. Consequently, the need for sustainable and valid CSRU management has been highlighted. In this study, a highly-intelligent prototype decision-aided system for CSRU was developed. In contrast with existing coastal decision-aided systems, this system is aimed at the management of CSRU, providing reliable and dynamic numerical simulation, analysis, and aided decision making for real coastal engineering based on a self-developed fully automatic numerical program. It was established on multi-tier distributed architecture based on Java EE. The most efficient strategies for spatial data organization, automatic coastal numerical programs, and impact assessment modules are demonstrated. In addition, its integrated construction involving the addition of a new coastal project on the webpage, its one-click numerical prediction of coastal environmental impacts, assessments based on numerical results, and its aided decision-making capabilities are addressed. The system was applied to Ningbo Sea, China, establishing the Ningbo CSRU Decision Support System. Two projects were demonstrated: one reclamation project and one land-based outlet planning case. Results indicated that these projects had detrimental effects on local coastal environments. Therefore, the approvals of these projects were not recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Web/Cloud Based Mapping and Geoinformation)

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5906 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Cloud Computing-Enabled Spatio-Temporal Cyber-Physical Information Infrastructure for Efficient Soil Moisture Monitoring

by Lianjie Zhou, Nengcheng Chen and Zeqiang Chen

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2016, 5(6), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi5060081 - 2 Jun 2016

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6659

Abstract

Comprehensive surface soil moisture (SM) monitoring is a vital task in precision agriculture applications. SM monitoring includes remote sensing imagery monitoring and in situ sensor-based observational monitoring. Cloud computing can increase computational efficiency enormously. A geographical web service was developed to assist in agronomic decision making, and this tool can be scaled to any location and crop. By integrating cloud computing and the web service-enabled information infrastructure, this study uses the cloud computing-enabled spatio-temporal cyber-physical infrastructure (CESCI) to provide an efficient solution for soil moisture monitoring in precision agriculture. On the server side of CESCI, diverse Open Geospatial Consortium web services work closely with each other. Hubei Province, located on the Jianghan Plain in central China, is selected as the remote sensing study area in the experiment. The Baoxie scientific experimental field in Wuhan City is selected as the in situ sensor study area. The results show that the proposed method enhances the efficiency of remote sensing imagery mapping and in situ soil moisture interpolation. In addition, the proposed method is compared to other existing precision agriculture infrastructures. In this comparison, the proposed infrastructure performs soil moisture mapping in Hubei Province in 1.4 min and near real-time in situ soil moisture interpolation in an efficient manner. Moreover, an enhanced performance monitoring method can help to reduce costs in precision agriculture monitoring, as well as increasing agricultural productivity and farmers’ net-income. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Web/Cloud Based Mapping and Geoinformation)

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Review

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3839 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Review of Web Mapping: Eras, Trends and Directions

by Bert Veenendaal, Maria Antonia Brovelli and Songnian Li

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2017, 6(10), 317; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi6100317 - 21 Oct 2017

Cited by 71 | Viewed by 23397

Abstract

Web mapping and the use of geospatial information online have evolved rapidly over the past few decades. Almost everyone in the world uses mapping information, whether or not one realizes it. Almost every mobile phone now has location services and every event and object on the earth has a location. The use of this geospatial location data has expanded rapidly, thanks to the development of the Internet. Huge volumes of geospatial data are available and daily being captured online, and are used in web applications and maps for viewing, analysis, modeling and simulation. This paper reviews the developments of web mapping from the first static online map images to the current highly interactive, multi-sourced web mapping services that have been increasingly moved to cloud computing platforms. The whole environment of web mapping captures the integration and interaction between three components found online, namely, geospatial information, people and functionality. In this paper, the trends and interactions among these components are identified and reviewed in relation to the technology developments. The review then concludes by exploring some of the opportunities and directions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Web/Cloud Based Mapping and Geoinformation)

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Other

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11047 KiB

Open AccessProject Report

One-Page Multimedia Interactive Map

by Nicola Maiellaro and Antonietta Varasano

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2017, 6(2), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi6020034 - 24 Jan 2017

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 9059

Abstract

The relevance of local knowledge in cultural heritage is by now acknowledged. It helps to determine many community-based projects by identifying the material to be digitally maintained in multimedia collections provided by communities of volunteers, rather than for-profit businesses or government entities. Considering that the search and browsing of texts, images, video, and 3D models related to places is more essential than using a simple text-based search, an interactive multimedia map was implemented in this study. The map, which is loaded on a single HyperText Markup Language (HTML) page using AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML), with a client-side control mechanism utilising jQuery components that are both freely available and ad-hoc developed, is updated according to user interaction. To simplify the publication of geo-referenced information, the application stores all the data in a Geographic JavaScript Object Notation (GeoJSON) file rather than in a database. The multimedia contents—associated with the selected Points of Interest (PoIs)—can be selected through text search and list browsing as well as by viewing their previews one by one in a sequence all together in a scrolling window (respectively: “Table”, “Folder”, and “Tile” functions). PoIs—visualised on the map with multi-shape markers using a set of unambiguous colours—can be filtered through their categories and types, accessibility status and timeline, thus improving the system usability. The map functions are illustrated using data collected in a Comenius project. Notes on the application software and architecture are also presented in this paper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Web/Cloud Based Mapping and Geoinformation)

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