GeoServer

Infobox_Software
name = GeoServer



caption =
developer = The Open Planning Project
latest_release_version = 1.6.4
latest_release_date = release_date|2008|05|21
operating_system = GNU/Linux, MS-Windows, Mac OS X, POSIX compliant systems
genre = Geographic information system
license = GPL
website = http://geoserver.org

GeoServer is an open source server focused on connecting existing geographically-referenced information to the Geoweb using open standards. It was started by a non-profit organization called The Open Planning Project (TOPP), to help build an interoperable Spatial Data Infrastructure by providing high quality, easy to use, open source software to potential data providers. It has evolved to become an easy method of connecting existing information to Virtual globes such as Google Earth and NASA World Wind as well as mapping websites such as Google Maps, Windows Live Local and Yahoo Maps. GeoServer also serves as the Web Feature Server 1.0 and 1.1 reference implementation, also implementing the Web Map Server 1.1.1 and Web Coverage Server 1.0 specifications.

GeoServer allows the publishing of geospatial data as maps/images (using the Web Map Server), as actual data (using the Web Feature Server), and allows users to update, delete, and insert features (using the Web Feature Server-Transactional). The focus of the software is ease of use and support for open standards, in order to enable anyone to quickly share their geospatial information in an interoperable way.

History

GeoServer was started in 2001 by The Open Planning Project (TOPP). At the time all mapping on the web was focused on just creating images of maps, and not on sharing the actual data that makes up the map. TOPP felt that this data was the equivalent of the 'source code' of the map, and extremely important for making a more open spatial data infrastructure, so that people could do the analysis and modeling that is not possible with a mere image.

Soon after articulating this idea the Web Feature Server (WFS) specification was released in draft form by the Open Geospatial Consortium. Adopting a standard protocol was in line with TOPP's goals of creating a more open infrastructure of spatial information, and GeoServer became the earliest open source implementation of the specification.

In 2003 GeoServer was named the WFS 1.0 reference implementation, and the WFS 1.1 reference implementation in 2006. Community contributors added implementations of WMS 1.1.1 and WCS 1.0. These were later certified as compliant making GeoServer the most standards compliant open source geospatial server.

Other contributions over the years included a web-based administration GUI and support for a wide variety of data and output formats. As the Geoweb has expanded GeoServer has made substantial efforts to keep pace, with support for Google Earth, NASA World Wind, Google Maps, Windows Live Local and Yahoo Maps in addition to traditional desktop and web-based GIS.

Features

Through the standard protocols it produces KML, GML, Shapefile, GeoRSS, Portable Document Format, GeoJSON, JPEG, GIF, SVG, PNG and more.

GeoServer reads a variety of data formats, including PostGIS, Oracle Spatial, ArcSDE, DB2, MySQL, Shapefiles, GeoTIFF, GTOPO30 and a variety of others. Through GeoServer one can additionally edit the data with the transactional component of the Web Feature Server standard against PostGIS, Oracle, ArcSDE, DB2 and Shapefiles.

GeoServer is built upon the GeoTools Java code library for geographical data and OGC specifications.

MapServer is a comparable open source product, having much of the same feature set. One distinction between the two is that Mapserver has a somewhat older development environment, written in C and invoked via CGI, whereas GeoServer is written in Java and the Java EE platform. GeoServer also distinguishes itself by having a web-based Graphical user interface for easier configuration, and by implementing the Transaction portion of the Web Feature Server specification to allow editing of spatial information both through the web and by desktop clients such as uDig. The main advantage that MapServer has traditionally had over GeoServer is speed, but with the 1.6 series GeoServer has become very comparable.

GeoServer additionally supports efficient publishing of geospatial data to Google Earth through the 'network link' capability, using the Keyhole Markup Language. Advanced features for Google Earth output include templates for customized pop-up windows, time visualization and 'super-overlays'.

Usage

Major users includes the Massachusetts state GIS - [http://lyceum.massgis.state.ma.us/wiki/doku.php?id=home| MassGIS] , and Portland's TriMet.

License

GeoServer is licensed under the GPL

External links

* [http://geoserver.org/ GeoServer official website]
* [http://topp.openplans.org/ The Open Planning Project (TOPP)]
* [http://www.opengeo.org/ OpenGeo] (Geospatial consulting division of The Open Planning Project.)
* [http://sigma.openplans.org GeoServer Demo Site]
* [http://blog.geoserver.org GeoServer Blog]