MapServer
MapServer is a platform for publishing spatial data and interactive mapping applications to the web. It is one of the oldest spatial web servers, is open source, cross platform and widely used. MapServer provides advanced cartographic output, support for popular scripting environments, support for all common raster and vector formats, and supports the most common OGC standards. It integrates with popular front end tools like OpenLayers and Google Maps. It does not provide an administration user interface such as that found in GeoServer, but is configured using map files or in a scripting language.
Goals/Objectives/Outcomes
- Understand the functionality and capabilities provided by MapServer and how these compare to other spatial web servers and rendering engines
- Understand how to install and configure MapServer on a local machine and for production
- Understand how to configure data sources for use in MapServer using map files
- Understand how to configure rendering rules in a map file
- Understand how to consume MapServer services using a front end mapping framework or in a Desktop GIS program
- Understand how to join the MapServer community and use the available resources
Reference Material
- http://mapserver.org/index.html
- http://www.osgeo.org/mapserver
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MapServer
- https://github.com/mapserver/mapserver
- http://www.mapserver.org/documentation.html
- http://www.mapserver.org/tutorial/
- http://www.gistutor.com/mapserver/3-beginner-mapserver-tutorials/7-how-to-generate-a-simple-map-using-mapserver-and-a-shapefile.html
Measures of Success
- Participant has successfully installed MapServer and configured their data to be styled and rendered.
- Participant has successfully configured their MapServer web services in a web mapping application or in a Desktop GIS
- Participant has become familiar with the MapServer community and the resources available for further learning.