GisContent, a new community plug-in developed by CRS4, Center for Advanced Studies, Research and Development in Sardinia for the open source web platform jAPS 2.0 Entando was released and is available to download on sourceforge.net.
GisContent enables geographic information management: it makes possible to couple any type of content in the CMS database with a geographic reference and display it on maps. It works by adding to the CMS two new attribute types: ‘Geo’ and ‘Gis’ that contain spatial characteristics. ‘Geo’ stores geometric elements in Well-Known-Text (WKT) format, ‘Gis’ stores spatial linear values and base layer.
"We wanted to create an easy and effective way to manage geographic information in a Content Management System" - says Roberto Demontis, Expert Technologist at CRS4 and plugin developer. "With GisContent it is easy to manage geometric shapes and maps in the CMS administration panel and to display them." ‘Geo’ does not need map configuration since it uses by default a free web mapping service application and technology, while ‘Gis’ works with any Web Map Service that meets OGC standards (Open Geospatial Consortium). By using jAPS 2.0 Entando CMS features it makes geographic information accessible to people with disabilities: two showlets, one for each attribute type, allow representing information together as geometric shapes on map and as content list on page.
GisContent leads the way to a wide array of applications. The compatibility of WKT format with Java Geo Tools library and many Database Management System (DBMS) spatial extensions, PostGis included, as well as DBMS Gis functionalities can be used to develop geographic search tools, filter geospatial contents or display content search on map.
A promising application especially in the public sector is the Public Participation GIS, that enables users to create new informative layers on maps or evaluate published GIS data via Web Map Services.
“GisContent has already been successfully employed in Tourrenia project, exactly with this purpose" continues Demontis. In the Tourrenia context, data show physical accessibility of the sights and the tourism facilities based in Tourrenia's territorial network. Through a properly modified interface users not only can visualise data on maps but can also ensure the quality of information, reporting mistakes to public administration. "It is only a first step - adds Demontis - we are already at work to improve user experience and make possible a mobile participatory process".
Background information
CRS4 - Center for Advanced Studies, Research and Development in Sardinia, is an interdisciplinary research center promoting the study, development and application innovative solutions to problems stemming from natural, social and industrial environments.
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