| Features
◆ Easy development
GIS has become an indispensable part of IT. More and more industries employ or are going to employ GIS, while GIS needs to integrate with Office Automation (OA), communication technologies etc. SuperMap Objects consists of a series of components based on ActiveX standard, which are applicable in integrating with OA, MIS etc. in various popular programming languages such as Visual Basic, Visual C++, Delphi, C#, Visual Basic .NET, Visual C++ .NET, ASP. NET etc. to provide comprehensive functions for the system.
◆ Independent distribution
SuperMap Objects 2008 is a complete component development platform specially intended for GIS developers. The software developed based on this platform can be distributed and run independently without any other SuperMap GIS series, decreasing deployment complexity and distribution costs.
◆ Powerful functionality
SuperMap Objects offers 11 controls, 170 programmable objects and over 3,000 interfaces with powerful developing capability and suitable encapsulation grain fineness. The functions cover graphics and attribute editing, topological processing, spatial analysis, 3D modeling and analysis, 3D visualization, thematic map creation, symbol library editing and management and layout printing, etc. SuperMap Objects is now the most powerful component GIS development platform with independent distribution.
◆ High scalability
SuperMap Objects 2008 is a component GIS development platform. Each component can be detached or assembled like building blocks. The user can develop a large-scale GIS project with the entire components or select part of the components to develop a medium or small-sized GIS project on your demand.
Figure 3 High Flexibility of SuperMap Objects
The high scalable architecture allows the users to fully consider all the factors of a GIS project, choose suitable components to obtain high performance/price ratio as well as reduce cost and risk.
◆ Build-in large-scale spatial database engine
SuperMap Objects 2008 has the latest spatial database engine, SuperMap SDX+ inside. For detailed information about SuperMap SDX+ technology, please refer to Chapter 2.
◆ Topology and objects oriented data structures support
SuperMap Objects 2008 supports two types of data structures, topology-oriented and object-oriented, offering more choices for data organization, which will redound to reducing developing difficulties
◆ Combination of GIS and CAD
The data structure of GIS and CAD has their own advantages, both of which have wide application in GIS projects. So these two data models are available in SuperMap Objects 2008 to fully utilize those advantages. At the same time, some CAD techniques, such as intelligent snapping and editing, are introduced, which enhance SuperMap Objects 2008 functionalities.
◆ Moderate encapsulation
Encapsulation grain fineness is an important indicator for the ease of use of GIS component interfaces. If components are coarse-grained, it is then difficult to develop extensible and flexible functions. If components are fine-grained, it will result in a large amount of objects, thus, on one hand, It takes a long time to initialize the system (the initiation of each COM object consumes CPU and RAM resources), and on the other hand, it increases learning difficulty, even a basic function will need a large block of codes to implement.
SuperMap Objects components have moderate encapsulation grain fineness, which is flexible and ease of use. As standard ActiveX controls, it is easy for SuperMap Objects to seamlessly integrate with other functional controls while reducing difficulties, saving costs, improving system stability and shortening developing cycle. As functionality is available in the form of controls, it can help developers create their own value added intellectual products with SuperMap inside. SuperMap Objects 2008 delivers a rich variety of interfaces to meet the needs of the different GIS projects. In a word, SuperMap Objects 2008 is an ideal GIS development platform, it can facilitate the users to easily construct desired GIS applications, even their own GIS products.
◆ Large-scale GIS development platform
SuperMap Objects 2008 supports multiple large-scale DBMS, and a variety of data formats. It is no doubt that SuperMap Objects 2008 is qualified to build various large-scale GIS systems, and is an ideal choice for the construction of GIS systems.
Main Functionality
◆ Map projection and coordinate system transformation
Map projection settings, map dynamic projection, and projection transformation for vector and raster are available in SuperMap Objects, of which polar projection and projection for Hong Kong are newly added to SuperMap 2008.
◆ Data Accessibility and Interoperability
○ Direct access to multi-Source Data
Multi-source GIS, CAD, RS and general purpose image formats can be directly accessed through SuperMap SDX+. The latest version of DWG and DXF of AutoCAD, DGN V8 of MicroStation, encrypted image SIT of SuperMap, map cache file SCT and multi-band TIFF image files are fully supported.
Direct access to WMS, WFS, and WCS services of OGC and KML format of Google Earth is supported in SuperMap Objects 2008, as a new Web data source engines encapsulated in it. Regarding the display of WMS data, the display property of each layer can be controlled independently.
○ Convenient data import and export
The data conversion engine of SuperMap Objects supports almost all popular GIS related geographical data, image data, CAD data and attributes data, so that the data of these formats can be integrated in SuperMap database to facilitate various operations, analysis, mapping and so on. On the other side, SuperMap Objects supports internal format been exported to external data for better interoperability among heterogeneous systems.
◆ Data editing and processing
○ Editing and snapping
SuperMap Objects offers a variety of geometric objects: point, line, polyline, spline curve, multi-line, parallel line, circle, ellipse, oblique ellipse, arc, rectangle, rounded rectangle, polygon, parallelogram, etc., and provides various operations like interrupt, connect, clip, divide, mirror, rotate, vertex editing, and other operations for spatial geometric objects, which fully address the needs of map editing and processing.
SuperMap Objects provides snapping function during drawing and editing spatial objects so that positional relations between point and line and between lines are available, such as point on the line, points be covered by the endpoint of a line, points on the middle of the line, points on the extension line, line be parallel to line, line be perpendicular to line, fixed angle between lines, line with fixed length, etc. The snapping function has very useful prompting tips for map editing and greatly improves productivity.
Vertical Snapping Parallel Snapping
Parameterized objects are newly supported in SuperMap Objects 2008. When editing an object, you can input the coordinates of the point to be drawn, while drawing a line, angle and length can be input to position the line. It is also possible to reserve unfinished part for calculating angle and length etc.
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Figure 5 parameterized precise drawing objects |
○ Raster automatic vectorization
Raster/vector conversion function has been enhanced in SuperMap Objects 2008, especially for conversion from raster data to point, line and polygon. For example, raster rivers and contours can be converted to line features automatically, and the effect is just like that of manual tracking vectorizing, which save the time of GIS data collection.
○ Topological validation
There are more than 24 topological rules available in SuperMap Objects 2008 for checking topological errors of GIS vector data. For example, the rule ”Must not have gaps” can be used to check data like parcels, land use data, census data which do not allow regions to include gaps or form voids. The topology validation is intended for point, line and polygon data types, which improve data quality, thus increase the precision of further map editing, spatial analysis, mapping etc.
○ Topology process
Topology process for line dataset is enhanced, including splitting lines at intersections, removing duplicated lines, dangle processing (removing overshoot and extend undershoot), removing redundant vertices, merging pseudo-node, merging adjacent vertices.
○ Cartography synthesis
A series of cartography synthesis methods are available in SuperMap Objects 2008.
○ Mosaic
Mosaic function is enhanced in SuperMap GIS 2008, especially for adjacent raster sheets, more utility boundary processing methods have been provided, and pixel format and resolution can be set at your will.
◆ Data management
○ SDX+
SDX+ is greatly enhanced in performance and reliability with brand new dynamic index technology as well as concurrent editing capability allowing users to feel free to choose indexing strategy from existing Quad tree, hybrid index, tertiary index and dynamic index. Both old and new index can be coexisted with each other and data compatibility between versions can be promised. For more detailed description of SDX+, please refer to Chapter 2.
○ Query
Attribute query: SuperMap Objects supports standard SQL query, and any attribute table can be associated including tables not managed by SuperMap. In SuperMap Objects 2008, cross database query is also supported, and any attribute table in SDBPlus, SDX+ for Oracle and SQL Server database can be associated.
Spatial query: 21 spatial query operators, including 9 basic operators, 3 commonly used operators and 9 combination operators are enhanced in SuperMap Objects 2008, which is capable to meet all needs of selecting features based on various relations. Moreover, spatial query of text dataset and CAD dataset are also supported.
Distance query: the algorithm for distance query is improved in SuperMap Objects 2008, the function of querying point based on point, line and polygon dataset has been added. For example, query all power plants within 5km away from level one rivers in China.
○ Temporal database
SuperMap Objects 2008 supports temporal database modeling, allowing users to save, join and delete vector data at any historical time as well as query historical data retrospectively.
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Figure 6 Temporal data presentation |
○ Long transaction
Besides general transaction, SuperMap Objects also supports long transaction.
○ Log
Five levels of event logs are available in SuperMap Objects 2008 in data engine, data format conversion, map display etc., including debugging information, general prompt information, warning information, error information and critical information. All levels of log information can be retrieved and output by the log manager.
○ Attribute table management
Users can perform management operations such as creating attribute fields, modifying the type of the field etc.
◆ Vector Based Spatial Analysis
○ Overlay analysis
SuperMap Objects delivers a number of vector based overlay analysis including Intersect, Union, Symmetric Difference, Erase, Identity and Update, of which Update is newly added function in SuperMap Objects 2008 aiming to solve some analysis problems caused by region update. In addition, overlay algorithms are optimized for a higher productivity.
○ Proximity analysis
Buffer analysis as one of the vector based spatial proximity analyses has a wide application. A number of buffer analysis functions are available for various data types, for example, creating multi-buffer for point, line and region features, round or flat end type for line buffer, or asymmetry ends etc. Buffer analysis algorithm is optimized in SuperMap Objects 2008, especially for linear buffer zone, a highly efficient creation of a large amount of complex objects is achieved. The example below shows asymmetric buffer is created along a railroad.
Figure 7 Asymmetric buffer
Distance calculation among point dataset is available in SuperMap Objects 2008. For example, according to the geographical distribution of schools in a town and crime spot data, all schools less than 1km away from the crime spot can be calculated.
○ Route analysis
SuperMap Objects delivers path analysis function based on network data model, including optimal path analysis, traveling salesman path analysis. When performing path analysis, the user can set turn table, barrier nodes, barrier edges and traffic rules according to actual requirement and output analysis result as a driving guide. It is capable of handling a large amount of analytical demands from public transportation, logistics etc with high veracity and performance.
○ Closest facility analysis
In the network analysis module, closest facility analysis is available for emergency management and public services. For example, if an accident happens, the 120 emergency medical scheduling center need to query the close emergency medical center within 10 minutes’ reach and the optimal route with the least time cost; the hotels within 15 minutes’ reach from an airport or train station and the driving route need to be queried and so on. In summery, the nearest facility analysis is not only able to find the optimal route under certain conditions but also to find the closest facilities with least cost among a number of analysis results.
○ Service zone analysis
The network analysis module can create a service zone for facilities, it also supports overlay processing of the service zone.
○ Resource allocation
The network analysis module supports resource allocation, which is applicable in power supply, school selecting for a student etc. Support cross and bi-direction allocation of resource.
○ Suitable location analysis
The network module supports suitable location analysis, applicable in location selecting for public facilities as well as its service area to ensure that the total distance from a demand place within the service area to a facility is minimum.
○ Logistics
Logistics is newly available in SuperMap Objects 2008, which solves logistic problems such as given a certain amount of target points with known positions, how many vehicles needs to be optimally organized to deliver goods to the destination.
○ Dynamic segmentation
Dynamic segmentation is enhanced with support for creating route dataset using both points with measurements and lines; Also rectifying the measurements along the line with correct points, creating event table according to spatial data, spatial positioning according to event table etc. are supported.
○ Tracking analysis
Tracking analysis for water pipe or facilities pipe are newly available in SuperMap Objects 2008, applicable in searching upstream, downstream, loop query, the source or junction of a point, the common upstream of multiple points, downstream junction etc. as well as cross map frame tracking analysis.
◆ Raster Based Spatial Analysis
○ Proximity analysis
Raster based least cost path analysis is available, creating linear or weighted distance raster, direction raster or service area raster etc.
○ Conditional extraction
Raster extraction based on condition is available in SuperMap Objects 2008. Grid/DEM raster data can be extracted based on multiple nested conditions.
○ Generalization analysis
A number of raster generalization analyses are available in SuperMap Objects including raster aggregation, raster reclassification, and raster resampling etc.
○ Hydrology analysis
SuperMap Objects offers various professional hydrological solutions, such as flow direction, flow length, flow accumulation calculation, basin partition, terrain characteristic line abstraction, accumulation basin calculation etc.
○ Surface interpolation
A variety of surface interpolations are available in SuperMap Objects, including Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation, ordinary Kriging and spline interpolation, etc. A surface can be directly created by sampling data. Especially for generation of DEM or TIN terrain model, in addition to using contour, sampled elevation points, other terrain data is also supported.
○ Raster statistics
SuperMap Objects offers raster based general statistical functionality, such as greater than, less than, equal to etc. Raster based neighborhood statistics supports various neighborhoods, such as circle, round, rectangle, sector etc. it also supports general statistical indicator such as maximum, minimum, average, standard deviation. Raster based regional statistical functionality can summarize statistical information of every region and optimize the efficiency of over 10,000×10,000 raster.
○ Map algebra
SuperMap Objects supports a range of raster algebra operations. Raster abstraction based on condition is newly available in SuperMap Objects 2008. Grid/DEM raster data can be abstracted according to multiple nested conditions. In raster algebra operations, more operators are provided, including Greater than, Less than, Equal to, Greater than or Equal to, Less than or Equal to, Or, Not, Xor. Algebra operations above can be implemented by constructing expressions.
○ Surface analysis
A series of surface analyses are available in SuperMap Objects, including slope and aspect calculation, surface area calculation, flood simulation, visibility analysis, fill and cut calculation, hillshade map, orthograph generation, isoline abstraction and other analysis functions.
In SuperMap GIS 2008, the functions of isoline generation by multiple points, generating isosurface according to ranges, automatic isosurface extraction are also added.
Below is a DEM map for a certain area (left) and an isosurface extracted (right)
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Figure 8 Isosurface extraction |
◆ Map display
○ Map operations
Interactive map operations can be carried out via visible map controls at runtime, such as zooming in/out, panning etc.
○ Multi level map cache
Any map especially maps with multi layer or rich elements, a cached picture will be created in a certain format according to a specific scale. At present, the picture format of .gif, .bmp, .jpg, .tiff and .png are supported. The cached pictures can either be used by WebGIS development platform or opened using image plug-in engine in SuperMap Deskpro or SuperMap Objects. It can also be used as a background to spatial data with overlaid partial vector data to greatly enhance data display and processing productivity.
○ General cartography
It is easy to create a variety of map frames based on national fundamental scales by using standard map frame generating tools provided by SuperMap Objects. You can add residence locations, waters, land use, contour and other national fundamental geographical data with other map elements within a standard frame.
○ Thematic mapping
SuperMap Objects offers a variety of thematic maps: unique value, ranges, graduated symbols, graph, dot density, and label thematic maps, where graph maps include line chart, area chart, step chart, scatter chart, column chart, 3D column chart, pie chart, 3D pie chart, rose chart, 3D rose chart, stacked column chart, 3D stacked column chart, etc. In SuperMap Objects 2008, functionality and representation of thematic maps are enhanced.
○ All thematic maps support filtering function, predefined thematic styles for future values;
○ All thematic maps support “Always on top”;
All thematic maps can be created using the field in associated attribute table via filter displaying interfaces of the layer;
○ Settings for thematic maps can be saved as XML templates;
○ Label thematic maps offer text filtered display, automatic label avoidance, flowing text, along-line labeling and label rotation. Label text can be displayed repeatedly along very long line element and extremely lengthy label will wrap to the next line or properly omitted with suspension points to assure the best display effect. Additionally, fractal numerical labeling, text label offset manual adjustment and text with background frame are further supported.
◆ In graph thematic maps, circular chart is newly added as the enhancement of the rose chart to support free degree settings. SQL can directly query external attribute tables. Each element of a graph map can be individually moved using the Action method of the Map control. For detailed thematic mapping, please refer to SuperMap Objects’ online help Map display effects.
○ Map display effect is enhanced in SuperMap Objects 2008.
○ Anti-alias effect can be applied to line, text, symbol and thematic map. Its visual effects can be saved to the map in the workspace without affecting the source data. This functionality makes the map more smooth and artistic.
○ Raster layer color table. When Grid/DEM dataset is to be displayed on a layer, the user can define the color table as well as the color of null cells, or choose to use transparency color. Raster color table scheme can be saved into the map.
○ Map bookmark and user defined display range. SuperMap Objects 2008 supports map book marking for a quicker access to a certain area of a map. The user can also specify a display area when the map is displayed in full extent.
○ Map display clip. SuperMap Objects 2008 supports user defined clipping area, only displaying the specified area of a map and saving map for layout or print.
◆ Map layout output
The SuperLayout control delivers map layout functionalities, providing annotations, Word Arts, symbols, lines, polylines, rectangles, round rectangles, eclipses, polygons, maps, complex chart frame, north arrow, scale bar, legends, pictures and tables etc. Operations on above objects are, for example, cut, copy, center, move, and zoom as well as multi-layout elements alignment, equidistance and grouping options. It also supports clipping on any region of a map. SuperLayout Control supports a variety of plotters and printers and smart paging printing based on paper size is also available, as well as printing the layout to one bitmap or to paging to multiple bitmaps.
In SuperMap Objects 2008, WMF and EMF file formats with higher display resolution are available for map output, which enables the instant printing with better resolution on machines where SuperMap software is not installed.
Layout legend is improved and richer layout elements are added in SuperMap Objects 2008. Every single item of the layout legend can be separately performed a style adjustment including titles, sub titles, legend fonts and their places. In addition, thematic map legend is provided to improve the artistic look of the layout by adding corresponding legends to the layout legend.
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What's SuperMap Component GIS Development Platform?
