Processing Spatial
Demographic Data in a
Web GIS Environment
Todd J. Schuble
Manager of GIS Research
Social Sciences Computing Services
The 1990s
author: Todd J. Schuble,
University of Chicago
The Internet and
desktop GIS?
author: Todd J. Schuble,
University of Chicago
author: Todd J. Schuble,
University of Chicago
TIGER files
author: Todd J. Schuble,
University of Chicago

Users went
through
great lengths
(and still do)
to produce
simple maps
author: Todd J. Schuble,
University of Chicago
The Future Is Now!

GIS is more than just software… it’s
a system!
• More than just for making maps
(although a GIS has tools for making
nice maps!)
• Meant for making decisions about place
•Goal: use should be pain
free!
author: Todd J. Schuble,
University of Chicago
Types of GIS

Desktop GIS
• Creation, analysis, editing and visualization

Server GIS
• Management, archiving, sharing, distribution,
and review

Mobile GIS
• Collection and navigation

Online/Web GIS
• Directly related to Server
GIS
author: Todd J. Schuble,
University of Chicago
Web GIS


Web mapping is the process of designing,
implementing, generating and delivering maps
over the Internet
Web GIS
• Emphasis on the analysis and processing of project
specific geospatial data

Challenges
•
•
•
•
Copyright
Security
Reliability
Technical complexity
author: Todd J. Schuble,
University of Chicago
Web GIS
GIS in a
browser
based
environment
 Not platform
or device
specific!

author: Todd J. Schuble,
University of Chicago
Advantages to Web GIS





No need for GIS Software with the users
No need for training the users in GIS
Changes made to the map and/or
database repository are reflected
everywhere
Authenticity and accuracy are guaranteed
by the provider
Small amount of hardware serving
multiple users and multiple purposes
author: Todd J. Schuble,
University of Chicago
All Web Maps Are Not Equal

Static web maps
• Any sort of map image (TIF, GIF, JPEG) embedded in a
website

Animated web maps
• Behaves as an interactive map via animated GIF, Adobe
Illustrator, or some other graphic software
• UChicago.edu campus maps

Real-time web maps
• Weather, traffic, earthquakes, etc.
• NAVTEQ traffic, Planefinder.net, USGS Earthquake
Hazard Program
author: Todd J. Schuble,
University of Chicago
All Web Maps Are Not Equal

Personalized/interactive web maps
• User defined styling and data filtering
• Umapper, Batchgeo, Google Earth

Analytic web maps
• GIS enabled with spatial analysis tools
• Social Explorer, PolicyMap, China Data Center

Collaborative web maps (Cloud GIS)
• Distributed data acquisition and maintenance
• Geocommons, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Business
Analyst Online
author: Todd J. Schuble,
University of Chicago
Collaborate with Users in a
Secure Environment
author: Todd J. Schuble,
University of Chicago
Collaborate with Users in a
Secure Environment

Cloud GIS
• Cloud environments typically provide:



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Software as a service (SaaS)
Platform as a service (PaaS)
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
PRC GIS Collaboratory
• The power of GIS
• The security of your own desktop
• All through a browser!
author: Todd J. Schuble,
University of Chicago
Questions?

Contact Social Sciences Computing
Services (SSCS) GIS Group
• Email: [email protected]
• Web: http://gis.uchicago.edu
•
Twitter: @UChicago_GIS
•
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/UChicagoGIS
author: Todd J. Schuble,
University of Chicago