From concept to implementation: web-based cartographic visualisation with CartoService Rita Engemaier, Hartmut Asche - University of Potsdam

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© asche|engemaier·ifg·uni·potsdam 2012

From concept to imple-mentation: web-based cartographic visualisation with CartoService Hartmut Asche, Rita EngemaierGeoinformation Research GroupDept of Geography | University of Potsdam | Germany

ICCSA 2012 | GEOG-AN-MOD 2012 | Salvador da Bahia, Brazil | 18-21/06/2012

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CartoService Web services for quality map generation

Internet

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Summary

1. Motivation

2. Concept: Service-oriented mapping on

the web

3. Architecture: Component-based SOA

4. Modelling process: Tasks and workflow

5. Standard application: Map configurator

scenario

6. Conclusion

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Geospatial component in about 95% of digital data (HAMILTON 2010), traditionally visualised in map form

Semantic and economic importance of geographical data com-ponents emphasized by Spatial Turn paradigm (>1980s)

Techniques and media for production of map graphics readily available to everyone due to ubiquitious access to digital infor-mation and ICT (>1980s)

Ongoing explosion of naive, ineffective map products lacking professional cartographic modelling quality (>1990s)

Web-based map production system CartoService promotes generation of quality maps by facilitating automated geovisua-lisation of geospatial data in cartographic modelling quality

1 Motivation Ineffective, ubiquitious mapping-1

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1 Motivation Ineffective, ubiquitious mapping-2

Cartographic visualisation quality: Population density map (a) National Atlas USA (2000), (b) National Atlas Germany (1999)

ab

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State-of-the-art software architecture and web technology utilised to generate quality maps

Domain-specific cartographic customisation of the standard visualisation pipeline: classical map design process mapped onto ICT rule base

Classical map design and production tasks, i.e. data acquisition, data processing, object-sign-reference, generalisation, map composition, map production, map distribution, incorporated in a set of service components

CartoService combines sequence of process steps in rule-based workflow to create meaningful quality maps from web-based input data and visualisation requirements

2 Concept Service-oriented mapping-1

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2 Concept Service-oriented mapping-2

CartoServiceData Map

Map Purpose

Filtering Mapping Rendering

ProjectionHarmonisationGeneralisation

Services

Map design process

Data

ApplicationGUI

Audience

Output

Classification Symbolisation

CartoService: Map modelling pipeline

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3 Architecture Component-based SOA-1

Implementation of CartoService concept based on service-oriented architecture (SOA) and object-oriented programming

CartoService organised as component service composed itself of separate services, i.e. self-contained information units, methods and processes, loosely coupled in process chain

External and internal services managed in repository; request-driven integration of services allows for extension of process flow as well as skipping of single process steps

Three-tier architecture: data layer (including data integration components), processing layer (including components of non-graphic, graphic data processing), application layer (user inter-action, monitoring)

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3 Architecture Component-based SOA-2

Application

Symboli-sation

CartoService

Data analysis

DB

Application Layer

Processing Layer

Data Layer

CartoService architecture: Components and layers

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4 Modelling process Tasks and workflow-1

CartoService modelling services (layers and components) assig-ned following tasks in map modelling and visualisation process

Data integrationRequest submission via communication interface > integration of input data by data connectors and adapters: input dataset

Data processing (> filtering)Data assessment, filtering including harmonisation (if required): filtered, harmonised non-graphic map dataset (primary model)

Data presentation (> mapping)Data transformation into presentation graphic by symbolisation (object-sign-reference): graphically attributed vector represen-tation of map objects, typical of GIS maps

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Map creation (> rendering)Transformation of presentation graphic into quality map model > cartographic generalisation > map layout > map composition: effective, fully generalised, symbolised, media-specific map product (secondary model)

Combination and interaction of map modelling services arran-ged in automated processing sequence: component activated only when preceeding component successfully completed

Workflow presented considered standard use case (reference model) of map visualisation and production with CartoService integrating (guided) user interaction and control

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Map LayoutMap design

DB

SymbolisationGraphic transformation

Generali-sationData processingData integration

a b

c

d

Filtering Mapping Rendering

CartoService process flow: (a) raw data, (b) filtered data, (c) map presen–tation, (d) quality map model

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5 Standard application Map configurator scenario-1 Use and interaction potential of CartoService exemplified

by map configurator scenario considered a standard CartoService application:

(1) Different geospatial datasets available > geometric, topolo-gical, semantic data assessment > preselection of appropriate cartographic visualisation > graphical preview

(2) Specification of visualisation goals, modification of native modelling settings (e.g. data selection, level of generalisation) > access to service features via use-case customised GUI

(3) Access of external features via GUI > implementation by AJAX techniques > transparent expansion, reshaping of native operations

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5 Standard application Map configurator scenario-2 (4) GUI settings modifications of visualisation

parameters instantly affect graphic structure of map face

CartoService not fully implemented yet, thus scenario-based quality map models generated by manual integration of rele-vant external services: MapShaper (HARROWER & BLOCH, 2006) for generalisation operations, ColorBrewer (HARROWER & BRE-WER, 2003) for definition of colour scales

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Mapping Rendering

5 Standard application Map configurator scenario-3

CartoService GUI (screenshot): Map modelling and control options

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6 Conclusion Effective quality mapping on the web

Interaction

CartoService ManagementData Map

Filter

Generalisation

Harmonisation

SymbolisationRendering

Data assessment

OWS: GMLFE

WPS SE|SLD WMS

CartoService map quality

Application

CartoService cartographic visualisation quality – compared against OWL-based map generation

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6 Conclusion Effective quality mapping on the web CartoService demonstrates that relevant

theoretical/methodi-cal expertise required for professional map modelling can be operationalised and made available through web-based services

CartoService combines server-based functionality and client-sided interactivity to provide the user with with a web service facilitating cartographic visualisation in an effective, rule-based and transparent way

CartoService-produced quality maps support and promote effective visual communication, exploration and analysis of geo-spatial data

CartoService can thus be seen as an important contribution to professional map visualisation of quality maps on the internet

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Thank you for your attention

Questions? Comments? Feedback?

Contact Hartmut Asche | [email protected] of Geography | University of Potsdam

| GER Web www.geographie.uni-potsdam.de/geoinformatik

ICCSA 2012 | GEOG-AN-MOD 2012 | Salvador da Bahia, Brazil | 18-21/06/2012

Technology

From concept to implementation: web-based cartographic visualisation with CartoService Rita Engemaier, Hartmut Asche - University of Potsdam