MapView SVG
Scaleable Vector Graphics
Many of the maps that we create are based on rich tables of data such as the results of consultations or information about sites. The power of SVG is that it allows users to not only use interactive maps but to see the background data and perform simple 'queries' such as 'pick out all of the sites over a certain size'.
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| The tables of background data can be accessed for each map layer | Simple Queries can be carried out by users |
The other key advantage of SVG maps is that they open in most standard web browsers and so the user does not need to install expensive or complicated software.
Groundwork GIS has developed considerable expertise in exporting maps directly from GIS into SVG for use by our customers and they can be delivered either over the internet or as a self-contained folder saved in the user's system.
SVG Maps created by Groundwork have been used in:
- visitor centres
- at consultation events
- to feed back the results of questionnaires
- as part of an intranet
Technical notes:
Scaleable Vector Graphics (SVG) allows users to view and print high quality maps over the web without being tied to one of the commercial GIS formats. Internet Explorer simply requires a plug-in (rather like the one for Adobe pdf files). SVG technology is widely intergrated into most modern browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Opera and Google Chrome. SVG was introduced as an open standard by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in 1999 for publishing animation and for interactive applications using vector graphics on the Web. In 2004, a vast majority of the mobile phone industry chose SVG as the basis for its graphics platform. For technical details, visit the W3C.
MapViewSVG supports vector based object data and image data. While image data are displayed as usual as GIF, JPEG or PNG files, the vector data and all text objects are converted into the SVG format. SVG graphics have the advantage to be infinitely zoomable without loosing cartographic quality. Beside this, the file size is quite smaller and loads much faster in a Web browser.
MapViewSVG also supports attribute data. The data can be displayed in different ways: with mouse-over effects, identifying features on the map and even as the whole attribute table. Like in ArcView/ArcGIS, there exists a link between the attribute and the geometry, so flashing of individual features are possible. The data are stored as XML files or in a database.
As well as offering this solution over the internet we have also worked on portable none web based versions giving this exellent resourse to people out in the field with not network access.
SOURCE: http://www.mapviewsvg.com/description/index.html
