Introduction to MapServer

1
Introduction to MapServer
Presented By Mark Rodrigo, GIS
Consultant mark_at_markrodrigo.com Presented To
AGIC, March 2005
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Overview

• What is MapServer and its major features?
• When did it start?
• Who is using it?
• Where does MapServer fall short?
• How do you install it?
• Why should you join us?

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What is MapServer?

• OpenSource development environment for
  constructing spatially
• enabled web sites.
• Originally developed in 1994 at the University
  of Minnesota
• funded by NASA ForNet project.
• Builds upon other popular OpenSource or freeware
  systems.
• e.g. Freetype, Proj4, GDAL/OGR
• Compiled as a CGI application.
• Can be compiled with Mapscript Module. (PHP,
  Perl, Java, Python)
• Runs on Linux, Windows, Unix, and even Mac OS.
• Maintained by twenty or more developers around
  the world.
• http//mapserver.gis.umn.edu/

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MapServer Development History

• 1994 Web-based Arc/Info AML
• 1997 Version 1.0
• 1998 Version 2.0 (Release as ForNet MapServer)
• 1999 Version 3.0 (raster truetype fonts
  added)
• 2000 Version 3.3 (MapScript, PROJ4)
• 2001 Version 3.5 (OGC, OGR, GDAL)
• 2002 Version 3.7 (24bit image support)
• 2003 Version 4.0 (Flash, PDF)
• 2004 Version 4.4 (WMS compliant)

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MapServer Features

• Vector Support Shapefiles, ArcSDE , Oracle
  Spatial, etc.
• The OGR module supports many other formats.
• Raster Support - TIFF/GeoTIFF, EPPL7, ECW,
  Erdas, etc.
• The GDAL module supports over 30 formats.
• TrueType font support.
• Map configuration file is used to create the
  cartography.
• Map element automation (scalebar, reference map,
  and legend).
• On-the-fly projection.
• Feature labeling including label collision
  mediation.
• Feature selection by item/value, point, area or
  another feature.
• Support for OGC WMS, WFS, and WCS.
• Mapscript provides a robust development
  environment.
• Image output as GIF, PNG, and JPEG.
• Spatial database support with tools such as
  PostGIS provide
• a means to do spatial analysis on the fly and
  present the results.

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Tracking MapServer Users
Map the Mappers
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MapServer Community

• Estimates up to 5000 users world wide.
• Very active on-line support. Direct line to
  developers.
• DM Solutions is a Canadian firm that supports
  and develops
• MapServer full-time. DM maintains several
  additional
• OpenSource components including Chameleon and
  MapLab.
• Chameleon is a series of web mapping tags and
  components
• that allow for rapid deployment of a truly
  custom
• MapServer application.
• MapLab is a set of interactive tools that
  assists in deploying
• sites and managing .Map configuration files for
  a more
• standardized application known as GMap.

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MapServer Disadvantages

• No integrated Geocoder. Try Google contest
  winner Geocoder
• No automated clean up routine inherent to the
  software. Must write
• or obtain one.
• No installation program for Windows. Its piece
  meal, but works.
• Breaking NewsThere is one now. Windows
  Installer
• Linux installations are not for the faint of
  heart, but once accomplished opens up the
  potential for serious custom builds.
• No inherent geoprocessing, but with a spatial DB
  one
• can run spatial SQL and present the results.
• Hosting options are limited, but a minimal
  server is needed.
• User base is weak in our neck of the woods here
  in AZ.

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MapServer Windows Installation

• Get the latest binaries.
• Read the README-Install.txt.
• Copy package to C\mapserver.
• Copy mapserv.exe from "C\MapServer\bin" to your
• web server's cgi-bin directory.
• 5. Copy directory "Proj" to "C\Proj If you
  choose to put
• it somewhere else you will need a system
  variable.
• Copy the dynamic link libraries (the files with
  .dll extensions)
• to your system directory. e.g.
  "C\Windows\system32
• Restart your web server.
• Test MapServer by typing "http//localhost/cgi-bin
  /mapserv.exe"
• on your browser. Success
• No query information to decode. QUERY_STRING is
  set, but empty.
• 9. Get many other builds from DM Solutions
  including
• the PHP Module Maptools

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MapServer Demonstrations
Canadian GMap Application Mexico Base Map GMap
Application King George Island Mexico data is
courtesty of LeadDog Consulting. Others Ship
Tracker
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Why Should You Join Us?

• Its Free.
• Its Fast.
• Its Easy.
• Great user community.
• It grows and expands everyday.
• Workhorses are using it e.g. Atlas of Canada
  and Topozone.com
• Its scalable.
• Its customizable.
• MapServer User Meeting
• June 16-18, 2005 at the University of Minnesota,
  Minneapolis, MN USA

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Links
Mapserver Mark Rodrigo's Development
Site Categorized OpenSource GIS List OGC Huge
OpenSource GIS List PostGIS OpenSource Spatial
DB DM Solutions DM Solutions GMap Canada Demo and
much much more PostGIS Windows Installers Firefox
Browser GDAL Remote Sensing C Library JUMP Server
Side GIS Components Deegree OpenSource WMS Server
OGC Compliant PROJ4 Reprojection Library
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Questions?