Abstract
This chapter explains the essence of mapping across the Internet, typical applications, and the Extensible Markup Language (XML) Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) dialect, which is the language most widely used to transmit high-quality vector graphics across the web. The origins of web mapping are discussed in the beginning. Web mapping is based on the invention of the World Wide Web and on a set of Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards of which the Web Map Server (WMS) is the best known. Open-source products such as the University of Minnesota (UMN) map server and commercial software such as ArcIMS made web mapping very popular. Though maps are available almost in real time, the bandwidth of the Internet is sometimes not wide enough and slows down the process. There are also open copyright and privacy issues. The different types of web maps are discussed, and the web mapping architecture is outlined. Thereafter, typical applications are presented, such as real-time mapping, location-based services, and urban or regional planning. Regarding vector maps, SVG is the most appropriate language for web mapping. All modern browsers support SVG technology. The chapter explains the details of this language. The painterʼs model of SVG refers to the principle that the last transmitted element is displayed on top of the others. SVG provides a wide toolbox regarding geometry, text and fonts, opacity, filtering, styling, interactivity, scripting, and animation. SVG is extensible towards foreign namespaces in order to include application-dependent extensions.
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Abbreviations
- 2-D:
-
two-dimensional
- 3-D:
-
three-dimensional
- AJAX:
-
Asynchronous JavaScript and XML
- API:
-
application programming interface
- ASP:
-
Active Server Pages
- ASV:
-
Adobe SVG viewer
- ArcIMS:
-
ArcGIS Internet Map Server
- CAD:
-
computer aided design
- CERN:
-
Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire
- CGI:
-
Commission for the Management and Application of Geoscience Information
- CGI:
-
Common Gateway Interface
- CSS:
-
Cascading Style Sheets
- DHTML:
-
dynamic HTML
- DOM:
-
Document Object Model
- DSLR:
-
digital single-lens reflex
- Esri:
-
Environmental Systems Research Institute
- GIF:
-
graphics interchange format
- GIS:
-
Geographic Information System
- GML:
-
Geography Markup Language
- GPS:
-
Global Positioning System
- GUI:
-
graphical user interface
- HTML:
-
Hypertext Markup Language
- HTTP:
-
Hypertext Transfer Protocol
- ID:
-
identifier
- IE:
-
Internet Explorer
- IE:
-
Interoperability experiment
- ISO:
-
International Organization for Standardization
- JPEG:
-
Joint Photographic Experts Group
- KML:
-
Keyhole Markup Language
- LBS:
-
location-based services
- MMS:
-
Multimedia Messaging Service
- MS:
-
multispectral
- NASA:
-
US National Aeronautical and Space Administration
- OGC:
-
Open Geospatial Consortium
- OSGeo:
-
Open Source Geospatial Foundation
- PC:
-
Personal Computer
- PDA:
-
personal digital assistant
- PDF:
-
portable document format (Adobe)
- PNG:
-
portable network graphics
- QGIS:
-
Quantum GIS
- RDF:
-
Resource Description Framework
- RIA:
-
Rich Internet Applications
- SDI:
-
spatial data infrastructure
- SLD:
-
Styled Layer Descriptor
- SMIL:
-
Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language
- SQL:
-
Structured Query Language
- SVG:
-
Scalable Vector Graphics
- SWF:
-
Shockwave Flash
- TV:
-
Television
- UI:
-
User Interface
- UMN:
-
University of Minnesota
- URL:
-
Uniform Resource Locator
- USGS:
-
United States Geological Survey
- VML:
-
Vector Markup Language
- W3C:
-
World Wide Web Consortium
- WFS:
-
Web Feature Service
- WMS:
-
Web Map Server
- WPS:
-
Web Processing Service
- XML:
-
Extensible Markup Language
- XSL-FO:
-
Extensible Stylesheet Language – Formatting Objects
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© 2011 Springer-Verlag
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Neumann, A. (2011). Web Mapping and Web Cartography. In: Kresse, W., Danko, D. (eds) Springer Handbook of Geographic Information. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-72680-7_14
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