MapServer
 | |
| Developer(s) | Stephen Lime |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 1994 |
| Stable release | 7.0.0 / July 24, 2015 |
| Written in | C / C++ |
| Platform | Cross-platform |
| Type | GIS software (compare) |
| License | X/MIT |
| Website | www.mapserver.org |
MapServer is an open source development environment for building spatially enabled internet applications. It can run as a CGI program or via MapScript which supports several programming languages (using SWIG). MapServer was developed by the University of Minnesota — so, it is often and more specifically referred as "UMN MapServer", to distinguish it from commercial "map server". MapServer was originally developed with support from NASA, which needed a way to make its satellite imagery available to the public.[1]
Open Source Geospatial Foundation
In November 2005, Autodesk, the MapServer Technical Steering Committee Members, the University of Minnesota, and DM Solutions Group announced the creation of the MapServer Foundation.[2] With this announcement, Autodesk announced that its internet mapping application, MapGuide, would be developed as an open source application with all new code and be named "MapServer Enterprise".[2] The existing MapServer application would be renamed "MapServer Cheetah".[2] This name change was overwhelmingly opposed by the MapServer community.[3] Autodesk then backed off this name change and retained the name, "MapGuide" for its product.[3] Also, plans to establish the MapServer Foundation were scrapped; Instead, the Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) was established to include MapServer and other open source GIS projects (which now includes MapGuide Open Source).[4]
Timeline
MapServer has had an important role in Web mapping history. The following is a summary of its evolution:
- 1994: UMN awarded with NASA/ForNet funding to support web-based delivery of forestry data.[5]
- 1997-07: MapServer 1.0, Developed as Part of the NASA ForNet Project. Grew out of the need to deliver remote sensing data across the web for foresters.
- 1998-07: MapServer 2.0 released as final ForNET deliverable; added reprojection support (PROJ.4).
- 1999: UMN makes MapServer an open source project.[5]
- 2000-06: MapServer 3.0 was developed as part of the NASA TerraSIP Project. This is also the first public, open source release of UMN MapServer.[6]
- 2001-06: MapServer 3.2 released with MapScript 1.0, like CSS, adds layout flexibility.
- 2002-06: MapServer 3.5 was rewritten,[7] and added support for PostGIS and ArcSDE. Version 3.6 adds initial OGC WMS support.
- 2003-07: MapServer 4.0, adds 24bit raster output support and support for SWF.
- 2005-04: MapServer 4.6, adds support for SVG.
- 2007-09: MapServer 5.0 released, introducing Anti-Grain Geometry (AGG) graphics library.
- 2011-05: MapServer 6.0 released, adds support for opengl & KML output, with 5.6.X as stable versions.
- 2012-11: MapServer 6.2 released, adds support for INSPIRE services. Released along TinyOWS and MapCache.
- 2013-09: MapServer 6.4 released.[8]
- 2015-07: MapServer 7.0 released.[9]
See also
- GeoServer - an open-source server written in Java
- Mapnik - Open source mapping toolkit for desktop and server map rendering
- TopoQuest - Topographic map viewer using the technology
References
- ↑ Ojeda-Zapata, Julio (June 17, 2005). "Minnesota's MapServer flourishes in hot Web-based mapping sector". Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minnesota).
- 1 2 3 Schutzberg, Adena (November 28, 2005). "MapServer Community, Autodesk Announce MapServer Foundation". directionsmag.org.
- 1 2 Grimes, Brad and Joab Jackson (May 1, 2006). "What’s in an open-source name?". Government Computer News.
- ↑ Schuyler Erle (February 4, 2006). "Introducing… the Open Source Geospatial Foundation!". mappinghacks.com.
- 1 2 MapServer History
- ↑ TerraSIP
- ↑ http://www.dei.isep.ipp.pt/~matos/cadeiras/pjac/sig/oss/lime_plenary.ppt
- ↑ http://mapserver.org/development/announce/6-4.html
- ↑ http://www.mapserver.org/development/announce/7-0.html