MapServer

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MapServer
Developer(s) Stephen Lime
Initial release 1994 (1994)
Stable release 6.4.0 / September 17, 2013 (2013-09-17)
Written in C / C++
Platform Cross-platform
Type GIS software (compare)
License X/MIT
Website www.mapserver.org

MapServer is an open source development environment for building spatially enabled internet applications. It can run as a CGI program or via MapScript which supports several programming languages (using SWIG). MapServer was developed by the University of Minnesota — so, it is often and more specifically referred as "UMN MapServer", to distinguish it from commercial "map server". MapServer was originally developed with support from NASA, which needed a way to make its satellite imagery available to the public.[1]

Open Source Geospatial Foundation

In November 2005, Autodesk, the MapServer Technical Steering Committee Members, the University of Minnesota, and DM Solutions Group announced the creation of the MapServer Foundation.[2] With this announcement, Autodesk announced that its internet mapping application, MapGuide, would be developed as an open source application with all new code and be named "MapServer Enterprise".[2] The existing MapServer application would be renamed "MapServer Cheetah".[2] This name change was overwhelmingly opposed by the MapServer community.[3] Autodesk then backed off this name change and retained the name, "MapGuide" for its product.[3] Also, plans to establish the MapServer Foundation were scrapped; Instead, the Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) was established to include MapServer and other open source GIS projects (which now includes MapGuide Open Source).[4]

Timeline

MapServer has had an important role in Web mapping history. The following is a summary of its evolution:

  • 1994: UMN awarded with NASA/ForNet funding to support web-based delivery of forestry data.[5]
  • 1997-07: MapServer 1.0, Developed as Part of the NASA ForNet Project. Grew out of the need to deliver remote sensing data across the web for foresters.
  • 1998-07: MapServer 2.0 released as final ForNET deliverable; added reprojection support (PROJ.4).
  • 1999: UMN makes MapServer an open source project.[5]
  • 2000-06: MapServer 3.0 was developed as part of the NASA TerraSIP Project. This is also the first public, open source release of UMN MapServer.[6]
  • 2001-06: MapServer 3.2 released with MapScript 1.0, like CSS, adds layout flexibility.
  • 2002-06: MapServer 3.5 was rewritten,[7] and added support for PostGIS and ArcSDE. Version 3.6 adds initial OGC WMS support.
  • 2003-07: MapServer 4.0, adds 24bit raster output support and support for SWF.
  • 2005-04: MapServer 4.6, adds support for SVG.
  • 2007-09: MapServer 5.0 released, introducing Anti-Grain Geometry (AGG) graphics library.
  • 2011-05: MapServer 6.0 released, adds support for opengl & KML output, with 5.6.X as stable versions.
  • 2012-11: MapServer 6.2 released, adds support for INSPIRE services. Released along TinyOWS and MapCache.
  • 2013-09: MapServer 6.4 released.[8]

See also

  • FWTools – a cross-platform open source GIS software bundle, including MapServer
  • Mapnik - Open source mapping toolkit for desktop and server map rendering
  • TopoQuest - Topographic map viewer using the technology

References

  1. ↑ Ojeda-Zapata, Julio (June 17, 2005). "Minnesota's MapServer flourishes in hot Web-based mapping sector". Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minnesota). 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Schutzberg, Adena (November 28, 2005). "MapServer Community, Autodesk Announce MapServer Foundation". directionsmag.org. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Grimes, Brad and Joab Jackson (May 1, 2006). "What’s in an open-source name?". Government Computer News. 
  4. ↑ Schuyler Erle (February 4, 2006). "Introducing… the Open Source Geospatial Foundation!". mappinghacks.com. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 MapServer History
  6. ↑ TerraSIP
  7. ↑ http://www.dei.isep.ipp.pt/~matos/cadeiras/pjac/sig/oss/lime_plenary.ppt
  8. ↑ http://mapserver.org/development/announce/6-4.html

External links

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