Whanganui Geospatial Data Portal using Open Source Solutions

Whanganui Geospatial Data Portal using Open Source Solutions [Webinar]

The Whanganui Geospatial Data Portal provides geospatial datasets relating to the Whanganui District that are publicly accessible.

The Portal is a geospatial content management system - a platform for the management and publication of geospatial data for the Whanganui District. It brings together mature and stable, open-source software projects under a consistent and easy-to-use interface allowing non-specialized users to share data and create interactive maps. Each dataset in the system can be shared publicly or restricted to only allow access to specific registered users or groups.

The underlying technology used by the portal is based on mature, well supported open source solutions (GeoNode, GeoServer, Mapstore, PostGIS, and QGIS) and is hosted on Catalyst Cloud in New Zealand. These open source solutions have allowed the Whanganui District Council to cost-effectively open-up access to its Geospatial datasets. As well as a modern geospatial data portal and standards-based geospatial web services, the Whanganui Geospatial Data Portal also provides effective online web mapping and state-of-the-art spatial database capabilities – all without the overhead of traditional vendor-based licensing costs.

The following open source geospatial solutions make up the portal:

GeoNode (content management system) – enables a company to manage and publicise their geospatial data. It will bring together mature and stable open-source software solutions under a consistent and easy-to-use interface allowing non-specialised users to share data and create interactive maps.

GeoServer (web server) – serves maps and data from a variety of formats to standard clients such as web browsers and desktop GIS programs. Data is published via standards-based interfaces, such as WMS, WFS, WCS, WPS, Tile Caching and more. GeoServer comes with a browser-based management interface and connects to multiple data sources at the back end.

Mapstore (web mapping framework) – allows the creation, management and sharing of maps from a variety of data sources. MapStore aims to be both a product as well as a web GIS framework. It is a product that can be used with no coding to cover the use case of a standard geoportal, however, it is also a framework that can be used as a starting point to build sophisticated geospatial applications.

PostGIS (database management system) – provides support for geographic objects allowing location queries to be run in SQL. PostGIS is fast, robust and supports a range of important GIS functionality in the areas of OpenGIS and SQL/MM spatial standards, advanced topological constructs (coverages, surfaces, networks), data source for desktop user interface tools for viewing and editing GIS data, and web-based access tools.

QGIS (desktop GIS) – enables the user to import data, digitise, edit, data analyse, geoprocess, database connectivity and raster processing. The highly capable print layout functionality is intuitive and user-friendly for new users to create professional maps.

Below is a diagram of how the open source solutions interact:

This webinar is aimed at any organisation using geospatial datasets and open source software and would like to cost-effectively provide access to their geospatial data.

Kindly presented by: