ESRI today announced the successful demonstration of ArcIMS software in phase one of the Open Location Services (OpenLS) Testbed Initiative, a program of the Open GIS Consortium.
The plan? Provide wireless standards for interoperable location-based services. LBS partners include cellular operators and wireless ISPs.
Creating open and scalable applications that can operate seamlessly across the myriad of disparate databases, user devices and telecommunication networks is the goal of the OpenLS Testbed Initiative. Mobile applications should work seamlessly across the nation and around the world. Other OpenLS testbed participants include MapInfo, IBM, SignalSoft, Sun Microsystems, Vodafone, and Webraska.
ArcIMS, a Web-enabled geographic information system, can be used for 911 directory service, routing, and map presentation. The next step will involve the OGC Specification Program, where candidate specifications from OpenLS will be refined until they are ready for official release as the Adopted by the OpenGIS organization.
Real-time Location-Based Services, Wireless Location Devices, and services like @Road, Intelliwhere and Location Net are available through the LBS Zone and Geocomm’s Spacial News. Maps in my neck of the woods include the Multnomah County Map Center, PortlandMaps.com, Nature of the NW and Portland Green Map. The Portland Streetcar has a real-time map and TriMet’s Transit Tracker could be wireless, too. OGI’s CORIE is a nowcast system that maps out conditions on the Columbia River estuary. YOTREPS is a free service that plots oceanic trips on the web and let shoreside friends be a part of your adventure. Vessel Tracking via ham radio is also possible. The Pacific Disaster Center will feature real-time maps.
The back end is where the magic happens. IBM WebSphere Application Server 5.0, released just today, follows the fall release of WebSphere Studio 5.0. Together, the platforms offer tools for enterprises to build Java- and Web services-based applications and deploy them on a scalable runtime environment. It costs $8,000 for a single-server or $12,000 for a networked configuration. The product runs on Windows, Linux, IBM’s eServer zSeries and iSeries, AIX, Solaris, and HP-UX. IBM explains the basics of Location-Based services.
GenaWare products run on Linux and Java. The NodeDB Mapserver maps out Community LAN hot spots around the world and is run by Evil Bunny of Sydney Wireless. David Mandel has lots of good GIS links, and hey, I guess my own Oregon Telecommunications Atlas is pretty comprehensive.
While I don’t have a clue about any of this stuff, I HAVE heard the key to success is, “location, location, location.”
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