SuperMap iServer

SuperMap iServer is composed with SuperMap iServer .NET and SuperMap iServer Java. They are enterprise GIS products developed with SOA. It can be employed to construct powerful, highly scalable enterprise network application systems or network services with the seamless aggregation of multi-tier and multi-level services. This product runs on the server side and it can delivers the same GIS services as the professional desktop GIS products to the client-sides; it can also seamlessly aggregate with the other Internet services.
Both SuperMap iServer .NET and SuperMap iServer Java have the same product structure. The main difference lies on the host platform. The former one is based on .NET framework while the latter one is based on Java platform.

System Architecture

SuperMap iServer is composed with the following layers:

　　◆ GIS Application service Layer

This layer contains spatial data visualization, spatial data professional analysis, spatial data management, and spatial data editing.

　　◆  Business architecture service layer

With the aggregation management library, this layer seamlessly aggregates the multiple sources, including services provided by SuperMap iServer products and the other services provided with WMS, WFS, Web Service, and KML formats. Through this layer's service aggregation, the spatial data from various sources and functions can be integrated together and published to the clients.

　　◆ Business architecture integration layer

Correlating with the aggregated services provided by the business architecture service layer and the controls provided by SuperMap iServer, the spatial data can be obtained from this layer. Also, this layer can integrate with the other layers to build a complete enterprise level Web application.

Figure 2 Business flowchart of SuperMap iServer

Technical Features

　　◆ Universal GIS Core Technology

The core of SuperMap iServer is coded with the standard and high performance C/C++ that fulfils the realizes cross platform interoperability, efficient accessibility, graphics display, spatial analysis as well as excellent performance for complex computing.

　　◆ Fully Componential Service Oriented Architecture

SuperMap iServer provides an open architecture with the coarse grain or fine grain components in the different service layers. In the service layer, the publishing components (e.g. WFS component and KML component) developed with OGC specifications make the spatial data sharable. Meanwhile, with SuperMap iServer's series of data accessing components used for the standard services, the external spatial data can be easily obtained to implement spatial data interoperation. In the Web developing layer, SuperMap iServer offers many visualized web controls and components, their interfaces can be invoked to implement desired GIS functions. SuperMap iServer products introduce the C/S based component developing model in every layer of Internet service system. This solution greatly reduces the services developing difficulties in each layer, therefore, it is a breakthrough in Internet service system developing model.

　　◆ Multi-level cache mechanism for iServer

SuperMap iServer provides multi-level cache mechanism. The Intelligent Cache Cluster (IC&C) and intelligent client technologies optimize the performance in different layers and realize higher efficient data and application caching. The intelligent client techniques include local caching, download resuming, local rendering, and real-time partial data capturing. This effectively reduces data volume of service access and web transmission, and thus enhancing the massive data processing capability and parallel data accessing ability greatly. Moreover, SuperMap iServer provides a flexible cache configuration component for developers to customize caching strategy according to the specific systems so that SuperMap iServer can provide data services effectively.

　　◆ Clustering technology with hierarchical network model

With this technology, the GIS services are linked together for unlimited applications or users to get better scalability and usability. Clustering can effectively adapt the changes of workload and communication storm, thus laying a solid foundation for improving the usability. The new clustering technology allows every node in the cluster to open different workspace data, therefore, a wider range of maps are able to be dynamically published.

　　◆ Optimized multi-process and multi-threading technologies

Developed with SuperMap's Universal GIS Core technology, SuperMap iServer supports multi-process and multi-threading technology to increase the capabilities to process high volume of concurrent users' request and reduce the average response time.

　　◆ Web service and SOA integration

Developed with web service technology, SuperMap iServer provides SuperMap Web Service and WebControls. The usage of the extendable data exchange protocol XML makes interoperation, data exchange and integration among heterogeneous systems easier. In addition, SuperMap Web Service can be encapsulated within the user's Web Service so that the developers can have with the wide value-added development opportunities.

The advantages of SuperMap Web Service are:

　　○ Easy integration among heterogeneous systems
　　○ High security with the standard network protocols and communication ports
　　○ Easy maintenance and update
　　○ Reusability in higher levels

　　◆ Convenient AJAX controls available in various levels

SuperMap iServer provides a variety of web controls in various layers, including Web side controls and client side controls. These controls designed by using AJAX technology, increases system’s concurrent responsibility and display effect on client side. The functionalities and user interfaces can also be separated flexibly.

　　◆ Powerful massive image data publishing

Traditional WebGIS software has the limited capability to cope with the massive spatial data. SuperMap iServer improves core representation engine for image data processing, thus remarkably enhancing up to terabyte image data publishing.

Figure 3 Massive Image Publishing with SuperMap iServer

　　◆ Services built with Metadata

SuperMap iServer products are open service systems. The configuration of assemblies is dynamically set via the XML configuration files. The different configurations can change applications' service contents, and the parameters used by the system can be retrieved from the configuration files. If no options is specified in the configuration file, the default settings will be used to ensure the system working properly. The system parameter setting can be configured during system's installation, after installation, or in system running mode remotely through web. This hot-swappable feature makes system management and adjustment very convenient and easier to use without affecting the system.

　　◆ Supporting 64-bit system

64-bit CPU and operating system will be widely used in IT industry in the future. Every application will be gradually migrated to this OS. SuperMap iServer fully supports 64-bit OS.

Main Functionalities

　　◆ General-purposed enterprise service framework with SOA spatial information.
　　◆ Support for GIS service aggregation management libraries.
　　◆ Enabled spatial metadata service.
　　◆ The publication of dynamic KML service and GeoRSS format spatial information.
　　◆ Support for overlaying map to external GeoWeb applications such as Google Maps, Virtual Earth and Open Layers.
　　◆ Clustering service with hierarchical network model.
　　◆ Multi-level and multi-tier service extension.
　　◆ Service oriented components.
　　◆ Service configuration management tool based on standard Internet browser.
　　◆ Support for standard OGC specifications.
　　◆ Support for a variety of standard Internet browsers, desktop applications and mobile applications.
　　◆ Online spatial data editing.
　　◆  Online advanced spatial analysis.

To cater to a variety of requirements from different industries, SuperMap iServer platforms deliver numbers of comprehensive, flexible, and scalable GIS services. Many developing choices are available for Web tier developing, such as visualized control development, script development, and component class library development. The customized GIS service can be implemented by the developers to select their required service components. Below is the detailed description of the main functionalities.

　　◆ WebGIS Service

　　      ○  Spatial data management service

Through SuperMap SDX+ Engine, the comprehensive and advanced spatial data service is available.

　　      ○  Spatial data publishing

SuperMap iServer offers spatial information publishing functionalities. The spatial data in a variety of data formats can be integrated into the map for publishing. Then the end users are able to access and browse the spatial information via the standard browsers, mobile devices applications, and desktop applications.

　　     ○  Professional spatial analysis service

This service includes network analysis, closest facility analysis, public transport transfer analysis, overlay analysis, buffer analysis and etc. They play an important role in tourism, telecommunications and power supply systems.

Figure 4 Shortest path analysis

　　◆ Online editing service

SuperMap iServer delivers the server-based online editing service for spatial data without any plug-in. Comparing to ESRI's ArcGIS Server, SuperMap iServer provides the lowest cost and full-functions web-based data editing component. The multi-user editing on the simple objects (e.g. point, line, and polygon) over the web is allowed. Also the users can modify the spatial data and its attribute data of a map service so that it greatly reduces the system maintenance workload.

　　◆ Aggregating and publishing multi-source spatial data

SuperMap iServer can aggregate the external multi-source spatial data services and the external data or maps (e.g. KML and GeoRSS) within the local service via the service aggregation management. It also supports dynamic publishing KML service and GeoRSS spatial information as well as implements overlaying the map to the external applications such as Google Maps, Virtual Earth, and Open Layers.

　　◆ Custom service extension

The spatial metadata service is provided for developers to extend the metadata service for the specific industry according to their specific needs.

　　◆ Server cluster with a hierarchical network model

SuperMap iServer optimizes clustering servers' task scheduling and transferring strategies and support many network protocols. This not only enhances concurrent access processing capability to reduce the response latency, but also provides uninterrupted services by letting the other servers to take over the tasks from the malfunction server within the clusters (see Figure 5).

Figure 5 Cluster Architecture

Target Users

SuperMap iServer offers integral solutions from development, configuration, and deployment to publishing; it is suitable for a variety of users to build their web applications.

For GIS professionals - SuperMap iServer delivers a number of services from GIS data editing, sharing, to web publication, and even the services published by the other users.

For application developers - the developers can directly use the GIS services provided by professionals to customize or build the application systems quickly and easily. SuperMap iServer provides a lot of choices for developing under various environments. The developers can choose implementation methods according to the system requirements, for example, pure JavaScript developing, developing based on visualized controls and so on.

For non-GIS professionals - without GIS background, the non-GIS users are able to use the Web Service techniques to integrate GIS services into their own business system.

For network administrators - the administrator can integrate the GIS services offered by SuperMap iServer with the other service systems to form an integral and seamless workflow.

Application Developing Modes

SuperMap iServer is not only large complex Internet system with powerful GIS service but also an enterprise level service oriented GIS development platform. This is the main characteristic that SuperMap iServer differs from the other Web GIS applications.

SuperMap iServer delivers a variety of developing modes from UI customization and Web application to engine customizing or custom service programming. SuperMap iServer allows users to choose their favorite programming languages (C#, VB.NET, Managed C++, JavaScript, Java etc.) and developing tools (Visual Studio .NET, C#Builder, Web Matrix, Dreamweaver, Jbuilder, etc). Even the non-GIS software engineer easily and quickly develop a GIS application with SuperMap iServer.

　　◆ AjaxSDK development on the web tier

SuperMap iServer provides AjaxControls for the Web service tier and AjaxScripts - GIS service script object - for the client side. These two modes can implement powerful GIS functions, including map visualization, spatial analysis, map editing and so on. Although the GIS functionalities are very similar, AjaxControl and AjaxScript are independent from each other. The users can choose an appropriate developing mode according to their experience and qualification of the desired system.

SuperMap iServer has added new controls, such as Magnifier, Navigation and ScaleBar. SuperMap iServer .NET platform further supports IIS 7 hosting environment.

　　◆ Application templates with many enriched functions

Many user-friendly application templates are available, including fast transplanting templates, reusable templates and so on. They make the GIS application developing easier and quicker.

　　◆ Web tier component development

SuperMap iServer contains lots of GIS components for web tier development. The application systems developed with these components, support many kinds of client side application, such as standard Internet browsers, mobile device application, and desktop applications.

　　◆ Customized engine development

The users can integrate with SuperMap iServer functions and services to extend theire system functionalities. It is substantially useful to develop the specialized engine for a specific industry to reduce development cycle.

Complete GIS Project Solutions

SuperMap iServer is constructed with the unified core technology - SuperMap's Universal GIS Core. It can directly access the maps produced by SuperMap Deskpro and SuperMap Objects. Meanwhile, SuperMap GIS 2008 series deliver complete solutions for GIS industries.

Figure 6 Integration with SuperMap GIS

The Future of SuperMap Service GIS Products

SuperMap iServer .NET and SuperMap iServer Java products are developed with .NET and Java technologies to provide openness, flexible architecture, Powerful GIS services, rapid massive data publication, and IC&C technique, convenient Internet developing with the visualized AjaxControls, and supporting multiple operating systems. SuperMap Service GIS products are committed to delivering the excellent products and services with the advanced technologies to Internet users and developers.

In the future, SuperMap iServer will offer further supports to data integration and SOA. More GIS functions and precise spatial analysis services will be added. As the map application services, both common modules and the specialized modules will be available to LIS, military, emergency information system, and so on.

SuperMap iServer products will be an enterprise level Service GIS platform with more open architecture and aim at component-based services, web-based servers, and client-side representation, and also provide more specific developing templates for various industries. Additionally, SuperMap iServer will be a more humanization GIS product suite.