GisMestor is a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Server that Mestor provides to give an opportunity for testing on-line web-GIS solutions. GIS allow the interaction and integration between common database and digital maps to generate information. By GIS it's possible to query a database to obtain geographical outputs and, vice versa, to query a map to obtain information.
The Internet/GIS interaction, gives a new feature to GIS technology: it's easier to spread and delivery information. This is an interesting solution for companies which work with much data, means and human resources and need a management system which allows:

• fast information circulation
• improvement of resources management
• steady resources control
• improvement of the planning and decision making
• geocoded data direct update
• more flexibility to distribute role-based information
• resolve any logistic and communication infrastructures problem

GisMestor demonstrates the possibilities for Companies and Public Authorities of a powerful GIS/Internet interaction, improving every activity based on a geocoded data set.

Background

The Internet has modified and upgraded communication; has made it instantaneous, global and "geo-unlinked", in the same time, GIS has strongly changed the use of territorial information ("geo-linked") as to allow to developing, in the applications field, the Geomarketing: the use of geography to improve the decisions and the activities in the field of communication, delivery, sale and end-users services.

The GIS/Internet solution application fields are so many it's impossible to describe all the possible use-cases (for some example click here). However, we can to imagine a possible use-case: a generic company, Public Authority or Private Company, who has staff for the product or service delivery and use the GIS/Internet solution for the management of its activity. The distributor, from any geographic position (client), can consult and update in real time through the Internet, the GIS maps in the server. In this way it isn't necessary to use the traditional means of resources management, managing, territory information use and communication (telephone, fax and post), any more these activities become simpler providing:

• only one memorization point, always updated and available, which allows to record, into the database, the state of the deliveries and to visualize by map the geocoded information
• for the distributors, an easy and fast method, that allows to consult in real time the acceptor data and to update the delivery status
• for the intelligence managers, information in real time about the deliveries status and a good means to manage the delivery

Independently from the use case, in any situation that uses geocoded information, it usually creates these activities:

• intelligence, managing and decision making activities
• all the others activities depending from previous

The GIS/Internet solution allows to improve these activities by their interaction, integration.

Project Objectives

GisMestor project provides web navigators with some of the possible services that the GIS/Internet solution allows. To use this in the best way, Mestor think that a GIS Server like GisMestor, must have these features:

• user-friendly using and browsing
• easy finding information
• complete and exact information
• flexibility
• user-friendly interfacing to GIS
• information multi-traceability
• multi-functionality

To always know an object's exact geographic position (by visual means and by coordinates), to reach the relative information from a graphic object and vice versa, the cross-use of the information of the system's "thematic layers", allow GIS, compared to common territorial managing systems, to be more competitive for data use rationality, for his access velocity, for his data crossed use. The interaction between the easy accessibility and the real time information availability of the Internet, makes the GIS/Internet solution very powerful, versatile and efficient.

Technical Approach

GisMestor is completely based on a Microsoft platform and the best applications to GIS create, manipulate, manage and publish. The main technologies are:

• MS Windows NT / 2000 Server - Operative System which provide sure communications, applications hosting, resources, files and directories easy management
• MS Internet Information Server - Web Services, FTP, SMTP and Active Server Pages (ASP) that provide an integration between data services and commercial services
• Autodesk MapGuide Server - Server for digital maps publication and Client requests management
• Autodesk MapGuide Viewer - Client for support and integration whit digital maps
• MS SQL Server - DataBase of users information, access, requests, etc.
• ColdFusion Server - Application Server for digital maps and database integration and query
• MS ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) - Object-Oriented service which allows data access in conformity to OLE DB and ODBC standard
• Object Linking and Embedding DataBase (OLE DB) - allows to access to any data records and to visualize the request data in a standard tabular format
• Component Object Model (COM) - applications development Architecture which join the business logic and business data

Data, software, hardware and human resources are the main components of a geographic information system. Mestor is able to realize a complete GIS service, providing the project plan, consulting, data collection, staff training, hardware, software. Mestor is the perfect partner for companies and public agencies with its "all inclusive" solutions.

Expected results

GisMestor, after a registration procedure, allows to visualize and query the Catania Province GIS. After the login a browser window appears divided in 4 areas:

• the map of Sicily, in the bottom left, which can be used with the mouse
• the toolbar, in the top left, which contains the buttons to interact with the map
• the services, in the top right
• in the bottom right, an area which contains the "legend" and the action results

A GIS is structured by some "thematic layers" in which geographic information is stored, represented by dots, lines and areas. Any object in the layers is identified by a coordinate system, or geo-coded, and an attributes set (non geographic information) is joined to him. Each layer is thematic to rationalize information: for example, in a layer there are the streets, in a other the hospitals, in a other the schools etc.

In GisMestor there are 33 thematic layers linked to a 5000 record database: all layers are not showed simultaneously, every layer will be shown by enlargement. Every layer can be shown or hidden by the "Layer Control". Thematic layers are so divided in areas and sub-areas:

• Services
  • Armed Forces
    • Carabinieri
    • Army
    • Coast Guard
    • Customs and Inland Revenue Service
    • Forester
    • Police
    • Fire Brigade
  • Hotels
  • Sport Fields
  • Hospitals and Clinics
  • Public Buildings
  • Schools
  • Deposits
• Roads
  • Railway
  • Highways
  • State roads
  • Secondary roads
• Politics
  • Sicilian Provinces
  • Province of Catania cities
  • City of Catania
  • Building zones

The map can be dragged, enlarged, minimized and it's possible to interact with the map by toolbar buttons and the right button mouse menu. Every object in layers can be selected to visualize details.

For example, enlarging the map of Catania and selecting the "Hospitals and clinics" service, in the right side of the window the list of the hospitals, ambulatories and clinics will appear, and at same time, these services will be visualized on the map with its icon. Clicking on a component of the list, this will be centered on the map. Selecting the object on the map it will be possible to visualize the information (address, telephone number, fax, structure etc.). It will also be possible to find a single hospital and visualize it on the map, it searching by name.

Quindi il GIS può essere facilmente interrogato: attraverso il sistema delle "query", si possono porre delle interrogazioni al sistema ottenendo informazioni attinte in maniera incrociata da ciascun piano tematico, fruibili congiuntamente ed in maniera indipendente dai dati originari.

GIS can be easily queried: by the "query" system, it's possible to obtain information crossing thematic layers. Try gis.mestor.com on line.