Galdos Systems uses an [INdicio™ Web Registry] together with Google Earth globe and Google Maps to build and deploy Geo-Portals. Geo-Portals offer immediate access to the information stored or referenced in the Registry. The INdicio Registry stores metadata about the resources accessible through a Geo-Portal and supports indexing, discovery, access, and management of the data, while Google Earth or Google Maps provides an environment that allows geospatial data to be meaningfully displayed. The globe or map also allows the data to be searched for by location using familiar tools.
What is a Geo-Portal?
Geo-Portals combine asset management with the ability to associate the assets with a geographic location on a globe. With the advent of public globes such as Google Earth, it is no longer necessary to use a Geographic Information System (GIS) to build a powerful and effective portal for viewing and accessing geographically related digital assets. This reduces the cost of deploying a Geo-Portal and also simplifies it.
Geo-Portals can be integrated with conventional web portals based on SharePoint, wikis, or similar technologies. Galdos uses INdicio Geo-Portal libraries and customizable INdicio web clients to quickly create or customize a Geo-Portal site supporting search and discovery, access, visualization, and publication of digital asset:
- Geographic images taken from aircraft and satellites can be quickly located by selecting an area on the globe.
- The location of permits, licenses, exploration leases, and claims can be visualized by finding the assets on the globe.
- Related data records and documents can be accessed and instantly read in specialized viewers and editors.
Geo-Portals and Content Management
Galdos has deployed several Geo-Portals, leveraging INdicio’s powerful capabilities for indexing and cataloguing content, as well as metadata management and the ability to support multiple languages and alternate spellings.
Initial deployments of Geo-Portals were primarily focused on providing and controling access to geospatial data; however, Geo-Portals can be extended well beyond such limited application. Geo-Portals extend digital asset and artefact management systems considerably by providing additional capabilities and access control.
Galdos has an integrated [suite of products] that can enhance a Geo-Portal with many capabilities. Access control can enforce rules about who can view or edit data in the portal. A 3D city model can support the management of building plans and permits. Data can be shared between agencies or between municipalities through publication and subscription mechanisms that can update databases on a schedule in in real time as changes are made at the source.
