The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Web Mapping - for the bookshelf Major Keary |
Web Mapping Illustrated is about "using open source GIS toolkits" to "build attractive and interactive maps". It is an attractive title printed on heavy glossy paper to accommodate full colour illustrations; however, it is not a book that relies on graphics to replace words, and it not for web novices. Readers are not expected to have any special knowledge of mapping technologies, but are assumed to be reasonably familiar with web technologies, XML, SQL, and Unix/Linux tools, and to be comfortable with the command line. A Windows version (MS4W) of one of the principal tools, MapServer, is freely available and described in the text. There is also mention of a Mac OS X version http://www.serverlogistics.com/mapserver.php and http://webpages.charter.net/kyngchaos/macosx/maperinstall.html.
MapServer can be used to generate static maps to individual specifications, and can be integrated with the Apache web server to create interactive mapping applications.
The book's focus on open source software makes it particularly Linux-friendly, but Windows and Mac users should find persevering with that situation is well worth while if they are keen to "move your web site beyond the average street map" or they have more serious requirements for access to map data. I doubt that they will find another resource — if there is one — that covers the field so thoroughly. The book explains how to interrogate and convert data, and apply it particular purposes; it also discusses the creation and management of dedicated databases.
One of the topics dealt with in depth is mapping and data management concepts, and available data-management tools. The software — all open source — discussed is used from the command line, which is more efficient than a graphical user interface.
Also covered is the topic of mapping tools. They fall into two categories — web-based and command-line — that are each discussed in detail.
A third topic, Managing a Spatial Database, shows how to set up a database designed to store geographic data using PostGIS, which is a geographic (or 'spatial', if one talks-the-talk) extension of PostgreSQL, a highly respected open source (it's free) SQL-compliant object-relational database application. The author points out that PostGIS has several features lacking in most commercial products. Readers are provided with information about where the software is to be found and how to install, configure, and use. This section is particularly detailed and provides examples of usage.
If you want to create and edit personal map data, this is the book to have. If you want to convert map data from one format to another, this is the book to have. If you want to do anything with maps stored in digital format, this is the book to have. My advice is to browse through a copy to establish whether you will be able to handle the software: it does not offer point-and-click solutions. As with all O'Reilly books it is very well written with clear explanations of terms and concepts.
|
Tyler Mitchell: Web Mapping Illustrated ISBN 0-596-00865-1 Published by O'Reilly, 349 pp., RRP $74.95 incl. GST |
 |
Reprinted from the March 2006 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
