Webbased Geospatial Information Services and Analytical Tools for Natural Habitat Conservation and M

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Web-based Geospatial Information Services and
Analytical Tools for Natural Habitat Conservation
and Management
Liang Guo

• Thesis Committee MembersDr. Ming-Hsiang Tsou
  Dr. Douglas A. StowDr. Roger Whitney(Math
  Comp. Science)

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Research purpose

• Facilitate the sharing, access, and exchange of
  geospatial information
• Enhance the utility of remotely sensed imagery,
  vector-based GIS and GPS data
• Provide real-time analysis in tracking natural
  habitat conditions and status of preserves
• Make the environmental decision making process
  more transparent and result more widely
  accessible

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Overall Problem

• Traditional approaches for accessing large
  volumes of geo-spatial data are often
  time-consuming and problematic
• Only a small number of experienced users can
  access GIS data and imagery by using
  sophisticated GIS/RS software

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Problem (contd)

• The expensive GIS/RS software, specialized
  hardware, platform dependence, and inability to
  commute with remotely accessible information
  hindered further development of these systems
• Due to the complexity and high cost of acquiring
  GIS and remote sensing data, most results and
  decision making are made behind the doors, using
  restricted information and with minimal public
  participation

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Project Need

• There exists a strong incentive to develop a
  wider user access of geospatial data because of
  the high cost of acquiring data and the
  multi-discipline of environmental research.
• There is a long-term need to call for easy-to-use
  and cost-effective tools that can be shared by
  multiple users and perform the critical real-time
  analysis for environmental decision making.

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Technical Revolution

• Internet technology allows for seamless
  integration with data storage, access, analysis,
  visualization and the creation of platform
  independence software.
• The Internet is a perfect medium for
  disseminating geospatial information interfacing
  with multiple users

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Internet Technology Advance

• From static to dynamic modeling
• From restrict use to easy access
• From stand-alone software packages to
  cross-platform applications
• From Heterogeneous to compatible and standard
  network environment

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Project Objective

• Provide a on-line data warehouse for efficient
  storage and access of geospatial information
• Implement web-based mapping facilities for
  displaying remote sensing and GIS data
• Develop algorithms that perform on-line
  analytical functions such as change detection
  over space and time
• Test the prototype for the usability through
  web-based questionnaires

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Research Questions

• How well can web-based applications enhance the
  utility of remotely sensed imagery and GIS
  datasets, and in turn contribute to the
  monitoring and understanding of complex
  environmental processes?
• How well can online data warehouse and GIService
  be used to facilitate the sharing of geospatial
  datasets?
• How well can web-based change detection tools and
  mapping functions be applied in a
  multi-discipline environmental management of
  natural resources?

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Programming Language and Software Selection

• Web Software
• Macromedia Dreamweaver
• Microsoft FrontPage

• Programming Language
• Java
• JavaScript
• HTML

• GIS/RS Software
• ArcIMS 3.1
• Erdas Imagine8.5
• ArcGIS 8.2
• ArcView3.2

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Prototype Web Service Functions
Internet Map Server
Data Warehouse
Data Warehouse
Prototype Evaluation
On-line Analytical Tools
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Data Warehousing

• ArcCatalog
• FGDC
• Citation
• Description
• Time Period
• Contact
• Search Engine

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Internet Map Server
Data Warehouse
Prototype Evaluation
On-line Analytical Tools
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Internet Map Server

• ESRI ArcIMS

• Intergraph GeoMedia

• AutoDeskMapGuide

• MapInfo

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3-Tier Architecture
GIS/RS Database
Web Browser
Internet Map Server
Web Server
Internet
TCP/IP
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ArcIMS

• Java Viewer

• HTML Viewer

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Internet Map Server
Data Warehouse
Prototype Evaluation
On-line Analytical Tools
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Why Java

• Write Once, Run Anywhere
• Open Source, easily and freely distributed
• Object oriented, full-blown language
• Extreme growth in functional APIs
• Network centric, beyond computers
• Advanced graphics and digital image processing

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2-Tier Architecture
Client
Server
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3 or n Tier Architecture(ArcIMS)
2-Tier Architecture(Java Applet)

• Client-Server Solution Adhere to all Internet/web
  standard
• Utilizing existing GIS function, centralizes
  administration of data and GIS application
  software

• Client solution
• Modern GUI and flexible interaction
• Good performance for operation
• Less Internet traffic
• No specific software and hardware requirement

• Difficult for complex data processing
• Lack of security

• Poor system interface
• Lack of interactivity
• Create many request

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Java APIs

• Client is Applet
• Abstract Window Tookit (AWT)
• Swing
• Java2D
• Java Advanced Imaging (JAI)
• Swing, Java2D, and JAI
• Brower needs Java 1.3 plug-in

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Image Transparency
Using Java2DAlphaComposite Rule Pixel-by-pixel
transparency the source image over the
destination image
AlphaComposite ac AlphaComposite.getInstance(Alp
haComposite.SRC_OVER) float alpha 0.5f ac
AlphaComposite.getInstance (AlphaComposite.SRC_OVE
R, alpha) BufferedImage buffImg new
BufferedImage(width, height,
BufferedImage.TYPE_INT_RGB) Graphics2D graphic2D
buffImg.createGraphics() graphic2D.drawImage(b
ottomImage, 0, 0, null) graphic2D.setComposite(ac
) graphic2D.drawImage(topImage, 0, 0,
null) g.drawImage(buffImg, null, 0, 0)

• http//map.sdsu.edu/arc/imgoverlay/alpha.html

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Image Swipe
(x,y)

• drawImage(image,x,y,w,h,observer)

• drawImage(image,x1,y1,w1,h1, x2,y2,w2,h2,
  observer)

http//map.sdsu.edu/arc/imgswipe/index.htm
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SWOT Analysis
Internet Map Server
Data Warehouse
Prototype Evaluation
On-line Analytical Tools
On-line Questionnaire
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Prototype Evaluation

• SWOT
• Strength
• Weakness
• Opportunity
• Threat

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On-line Questionnaire

• Two Mission Trail Park Rangers
• Four GIS, Remote SensingProfessionals
• Four Graduate Students

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Prototype Website

• Project Web Site http//map.sdsu.edu/arc

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Strength

• Easy to access, cross-platform
• Simplified and user-friendly interface
• No software requirement, no hardware
  installation, no license
• Cost reduction, maximum availability of
  information to the public
• Facilitate the exchange and sharing high-cost of
  geo-spatial information between multi-discipline
  users

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Weakness

• Lack of advanced analytical capability and
  integration with dynamic modeling
• The desired performance is relied on higher
  bandwidth requirement
• Different levels of users technique
  understanding can not be taken for granted

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Opportunity

• Improved public awareness and participation with
  geospatial information by giving process more
  transparent and result more accessible via the
  Internet
• With the continuing development of web-based
  applications, more GIS/RS data can be shared in
  an efficient and timely manner.
• High bandwidth availability can make performance
  more satisfactory and acceptable

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Threat

• Need significant levels of programming skills and
  geometric algorithm
• A comprehensive Internet GIS, and remote sensing
  application is difficult to be fully developed,
  only certain functions will be migrated into
  Internet
• Web-based tool is ideal for demo and sharing of
  data, not capable of taking the place of desktop
  software

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Metadata

• The content of FGDC metadata need to be
  simplified and standardized for the efficient and
  practical use of environmental program.
• A well-organized index, sorting and search
  mechanism is much-needed to facilitate the
  exchange and sharing geo-spatial information

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Internet Map Server

• ArcIMS and other web-based mapping facilities are
  only focused on GIS analytical capabilities.
• Lack of interoperability with remote sensing and
  GPS data, there is a significant limitation to
  add remotely sensed imagery under current
  software architecture

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Java-based On-line Analytical Tools

• Java has great potential for providing advanced
  analytical capabilities for remotely sensed
  imagery
• Many Java APIs, such as Java2D, JAI are designed
  for digital image processing
• Image size and format are still a major barrier
  for Java programming technology

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Future Development
(Image Geo-referencing)
x
y
(0,0)
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Web-based Image Viewer 3.0
http//map.sdsu.edu/mobilegis/area/index.html
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Tile Image

• Tile Image breaks the data into tiles which can
  be loaded on demand.
• Only a small portion of a dataset is visible at
  any one time
• Using a 2-dimensional array to assist fast
  retrieval of tiles.

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Image Pyramid
tileImage (i, j, k)

• Internet solution to assist in displaying large
  datasets
• Reduce memory overload
• Multi-scale dependent tile images

16X
8X
4X
Zoom Factor
2X
1X
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Web-based Image Viewer 4.0
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Conclusion

• Web-based service can facilitate the access,
  sharing and manipulating geo-spatial information
• Current technologies like Java, ArcIMS
  demonstrate a great potential in the application
  of GIS and remote sensing
• Technical barrier such as bandwidth requirement,
  programming capability, and software limitation
  is a major concern for the further development

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Potential Use

• High Resolution Imagery
• Geographic Information System
• Spatial Analysis - Scientific data visualization

• Medical Imaging
• Digital Photography
• Document Image Processing
• Computer Aided Design (CAD)
• Multi-media digital library
• Presentation software

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Acknowledgements Dr. Ming-Hsiang Tsou Dr.
Douglas A. Stow Dr. Roger Whitney(Math Comp.
Science) John Kaiser Lloyd (Pete) Coulter Lina
Cao John Ryan
The End