Hello! I'm ippuku_time, a GIS implementation support consultant.
This is the 22nd installment of the "5-Minute Guide to SuperMap iDesktopX."
Last time, we explored advanced 3D spatial analysis, a capability unique to 3D space. This time, we'll focus on how to share the valuable geospatial information you've created and analyzed with a wider audience—through cloud sharing and web map publishing.
Don't just use your GIS on the desktop—share it with the world via the web!
1. Why publish maps on the web?
Maps and analysis results created with desktop GIS are extremely powerful, but their true value is realized only when they are shared with others. Publishing them as web maps offers several key advantages:
(1) Accessibility
Anyone with a web browser can access the maps—whether on a PC without GIS software installed, or on smartphones and tablets.
(2) Centralized information
All stakeholders can access the same, up-to-date map data at any time, eliminating information discrepancies and enabling faster, more accurate decision-making.
(3) System integration
Published map services (APIs) can be embedded into websites or integrated with business systems, significantly expanding application scenarios.
A map created on the desktop can be distributed to multiple devices through the cloud
2. "SuperMap iServer" – the core of web publishing
The core component for publishing maps created with iDesktopX to the web is SuperMap iServer, the GIS server product of the SuperMap family.
While iDesktopX is a professional tool for creating and editing maps, iServer is a powerful server designed for distributing and delivering those results to a large number of users.
iDesktopX includes built-in functionality that makes publishing data to iServer simple and efficient.
3. One-click publishing from iDesktopX
The "Online" tab in iDesktopX provides dedicated tools for publishing content to iServer, allowing the entire process to be completed in just a few clicks.
(1) Publishing a workspace
This is the most basic publishing method. It publishes the entire workspace (project file), including maps, datasets, styles, and other settings created in iDesktopX.
Types of services published:
REST services: The most commonly used service type for web system integration, delivering map images and geospatial data.
OGC services: International standard services such as WMS and WFS, allowing published maps to be consumed by non-SuperMap GIS software (e.g., QGIS).
(2) Publishing map tiles
As explained in Part 14, map tiles are key to high-performance web maps.
By publishing the tile cache (stored locally or in MongoDB) generated by iDesktopX directly to iServer, you can create a highly responsive and efficient map distribution service.
4. Using the published services
Once publishing is complete, a service URL is displayed in the iDesktopX output window. This URL can be used in many ways:
(1) Web applications
Build custom web map applications using SuperMap’s Web API (iClient) or open-source libraries such as Leaflet and OpenLayers.
(2) Other GIS software
Published WMS/WFS services can be used as standard data sources in many desktop GIS applications.
(3) Reuse in iDesktopX
You can reconnect to your published services in iDesktopX as web data sources, overlay them with other datasets, and continue analysis.
Summary
In this installment, we introduced Cloud Sharing and Web Map Publishing, enabled by the seamless collaboration between iDesktopX and iServer.
Advanced geospatial information created and analyzed on the desktop can be published as web services with just a few simple steps, making it easy to share across teams and organizations.
This workflow is a powerful way to maximize the value of geospatial information and promote its broader, more democratic use.
The next article will be Part 23: "Data Migration Tools for Easy Switching from Other GIS Systems."
We'll explain how to smoothly migrate existing data from other GIS platforms to SuperMap and introduce practical tools to help. Stay tuned!
