Blueprint for Creating an Open Source Web Map

Background: This is a blueprint for how to create an open source online map written by M. Ballinger as her capstone project for Pennsylvania State University’s Master in Geography Information Systems. The blueprint uses the final project for Pennsylvania State University’s Geography 585 Open Source Web Mapping Class as an example. It focuses on Jackson County, Missouri’s farmers markets and breweries.

Purpose: This blueprint takes the user through the steps of creating new data, modifying existing data to the map’s specifications, creating style layer descriptors, writing basic HTML, and posting to the Internet. It also points to additional resources.

Introduction: Questions and Considerations

When creating a web map, there are numerous programs available but the majority cost money. This is a blueprint on how to create a web map using only open source programs. Open source programs tend not to be the first option that comes to mind to complete such a task.

Who should want to use this blueprint? This blueprint has been designed with non-profit organizations and city governments in mind. The application for this blueprint is endless.

Why use open source? Free-software cuts costs for non-profit organizations and city governments, which may be operating on limited budgets. Open source programs not only allow users to avoid the initial purchase cost, being free, but also to defray subsequent costs by giving users the flexibility of choosing whether or not to upgrade to later versions. If the current version works, then the user does not have to upgrade; if the new version has a new tool that sounds interesting, upgrade.  An added benefit is that users can adapt the software without having issues with the current code. Overall the change tends to occur more slowly when compared to commercial software. When the software does change, users will be communicated the changes to adjust workflows. Also users can control how data is displayed so the information that they desire to highlight is clear.

Why not just use a mash-up instead of open source? Mash-ups are effective for certain situations, depending on the project goals. On the other hand, in general mash-ups can be constricting.

There are three types of mash-up: data, consumer, and enterprise. Each type has its own purpose. Data mash-ups combine similar types of media and information from multiple sources into a single representation. Consumer mash-ups combine different data types. The most common mash-up is the consumer mash-up, which is aimed at the general public. Enterprise or business mash-ups tend to combine the business’s resources, application and data with other external web services.

Once a user puts something on the internet as mash-up, someone else has the ability to change the data, add their own, or delete it. On the positive side, mash-ups are great for situations when users want input from the public and plan to combine that input into the final product. On the negative side, if users are trying to put out information on a given topic, they do not necessarily want the public combining its information with theirs or being able to modify their data. Users will want to take these considerations into account when deciding between using open source or mash-ups.

Specifications of this Blueprint

This template is designed as a thin client. A thin client in this respect is a program that relays on a server to provide the majority of the information to the user. There are a couple of reasons to create a thin client including most computers have an installed web browser and most users know how to use web browsers. Thus, using this type of format keeps users in their comfort zone while also achieving their goal by creating a great web maps.

Getting Started

The first step is to get the data. Here are some suggestions for places with free data: Federal Geographic Data Committee’s Clearinghouse Network (http://gos2.geodata.gov/wps/portal/gos), Libre Map Project ((http://libremap.org/), or a state website, since many have free data. A user can also create his or her data as needed. Once the user has the data, it is time to start working with it.

General note: see the software’s website for instructions on how to install each program and get the current version.

Continue onto QGIS section.