Here we have provided a list of questions and answers intended to help people understand a little more about the capabilities and functionality of iShareMaps Location Server and Data Share.

Which Priority Outcomes does iShareMaps address?

iShareMaps exceeds all ODPM requirements such as

• G5 - Public access to corporate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for map-based data presentation of property-related information

• G14 – GIS-based presentation of information on road works in the local area

• R7 - Reporting facilities for abandoned cars, graffiti etc.

• R8 – Online processing of planning and building control

• R15 – Consultation for traffic management

What is included in the iShareMaps package?

iShareMaps from Astun Technology Ltd is a complete, end-to-end solution for delivering location-based information about Local Authority services through your existing corporate website. The solution comprises four key elements.

• iShareMaps software

• Implementation services to help you deliver the maximum benefit from new and existing datasets

• Data preparation and analysis conducted by Astun Technology consultants to ensure your datasets are both accessible and optimised for web-based information delivery including linking out to other areas of the site.

• Ongoing maintenance and support of the software application.

What is the difference between the Standard and Enterprise editions?

Standard edition includes the Map Portal, My House, Web Services and Administration Console.

Enterprise includes all of the standard modules together with two other modules, Data Share and My Alerts.

Both editions come with implementation consultancy, training, technical support and annual maintenance to ensure that you have a fully location-based web site.

Will I require a Mapping engine and Database license?

No, iShareMaps may be used with MapServer which is an open source, free mapping engine and a PostgresSQL Server database, an open source, free database management system.

I have a MapInfo MapXtreme licence.  Can I use this?

Yes! iShareMaps may be used with either MapInfo MapXtreme 2004 or MapServer which is an open source, free mapping engine.  There are no differences to the user (the citizen) other than MapServer being faster and more reliable.  For you, the Local Authority you get the solution implemented cheaper and you can then use your MapXtreme licences for other solutions such as Intranet GIS.

Can I use my own address gazetteer?

By default iShareMaps will use an address list stored in a BS7666 form through a standard database. The gazetteer data can either, be a replicated copy of the internal LLPG made accessible for Internet access, or securely access a single internal LLPG source directly. This could very likely be the LLPG managed by CAPS UNI-form’s Gazetteer Management System (GMS), Aligned Assets’ Symphony Gazetteer, MapInfo GMS, MVM or SX3.  If your GMS is open we can use the data. iShareMaps can also be configured to support alternate address sources such as NLPG, Address-Point, GeoDirectory and Pointer. Further gazetteers may also be supported through additional consultancy and implementation services.

I have an Online Planning System; can I connect to and from iShareMaps?

Yes! As iShareMaps adheres to web standards this means that you can link to and from it through simple hyperlinks. Some specific online planning systems that we have currently linked to and from include, MVM Planning Explorer, CAPS Public Access Module, Software AG and others.

Does iShareMaps integrate with my current website?

iShareMaps is fully customisable using cascading style sheets that enable you to fit the application seamlessly into an existing Internet application. Visitors will experience the same look and feel when using iShareMaps as they would when visiting any other part of the website.

Our web team takes web accessibility very seriously.  How does iShareMaps deal with this?

As recognised by SOCITM and other governing bodies, maps are inherently difficult to access.  Over 18 months ago we recognised this and built the My House module and made all spatial querying available through standard web services that web developers know.  Now it is possible to provide location based content by:

• My House - which is totally accessible via text browsers, screen readers or older web browsers (we have tested back to Internet Explorer 3.0)
• Build your own textual pages that query the web services and return content without the requirement for a map.

We want to be able to have maps integrated throughout our website.  Is that possible?

Glad you asked!  It is very simple to implement and you can even have multiple maps on one page.  See

http://www.southtyneside.info/feedback/contact.asp

or

http://www.southtyneside.info/feedback/jarrow_hebburn.asp

What information can I include in iShareMaps?

The number of datasets you can make available in iShareMaps is only limited by the number of datasets available within your Local Authority. Customers implementing iShareMaps can incorporate any number of datasets which may or may not have a geographical location including Council offices, Schools, Doctor’s surgeries, libraries, leisure centres, ward boundaries, conservation areas, refuse and recycling collection, car parks, road works and many more.

More datasets can be easily added to iShareMaps by you, as and when they are required, through the administration console

What is the data preparation service?

The Astun Technology data preparation service helps Local Authorities to prepare existing geographical datasets such as school locations and leisure centres into an optimised format suitable for web delivery.

Does all the data have to be stored in a database?

No, although spatial and non-spatial data links to areas on the website can be held in a database.  These are accessed via the Data Share module.

Where is the database located?

iShareMaps can be configured to access data that is replicated from back-office systems (textual and spatial) into a PostgresSQL Server database, using the Data Share module. Replicated data sources will automatically be synchronised though Data Share from the back-office systems via Windows Scheduled Tasks.

Can I use data held in any GIS format?

Yes, iShareMaps can:

• Read over 125 different GIS vector and raster formats NATIVELY including:

• ESRI Shape

• ESRI ArcSDE (including direct from CAPS UNI-form)

• MapInfo TAB

• Oracle Spatial (including from GDC GeoStore)

• Access data in any ODBC database

Can I include data held in my UNI-form database?

Yes.