WebGIS (133)

Instructors' Notes

Developing a WebGIS application requires considerable programming skill and is best saved for advanced courses. However, students in introductory and intermediate courses can learn much about the capabilities of such systems by examining in detail some of the examples and demo projects listed in the unit's reference section.

Studying Examples

Have students work individually or in teams to compare and contrast two or three of the examples listed in the module. Have them characterize the strategy being employed, assess its performance, and suggest other strategies for accomplishing the same goals.

Developing a Plan for a WebGIS

Have students consider how they might develop a WebGIS or a local government agency or company that might be interested in providing geospatial data to the general public. What strategy would they employ and why? What steps would they take to guide inexperienced users who might access the system?

Creating a Simple WebGIS

The software tools needed to develop some rudimentary WebGIS are becoming easier and easier to use. If you have time, it is possible to set up some examples with products like ESRI's ArcView IMS (Internet Map Server), Intergraph's GeoMedia Web Map, or with software tools produced by other vendors. Creating or experimenting with a simple, pre-programmed example is a good laboratory exercise.

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