Using Ajax for desktop-like geospatial web application development

Abstract

As one of key components of Web 2.0 architecture, Ajax brings web applications with more responsive, interactive, intuitive and dynamic features. With its rich combination of technologies, Ajax provides a strong foundation for the development of geospatial web applications. An Ajax-enabled and desktop-like online geospatial analysis system is built to provide Geosciences community an easy web access to Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards compliant geospatial data, information and services from multiple sources. In this system, Ajax-enabled Graphic User Interface (GUI) components, Servlet calling and web service invocations are integrated and implemented to create a better web experience for the end users. Ajax helps this data-rich and service-centric geospatial web application be increasingly used.