Comparison between map servers (IMS)

Before we talked about a comparison In terms of price, of various map server platforms, this time we will talk about the comparison in functionality. For this we will use as a basis a study by Pau Serra del Pozo, from the Technical Office of Cartography and Local GIS (Diputación de Barcelona) and although the analysis is based only on the tools that are distributed on the market, it can be useful when deciding for spending money. It is necessary to understand that the map service functionality is only understood as reading and arranging GIS data in such a way that a web browser can display it with certain "basic" functionalities. Among these "basic" functionalities we understand: -Visualization, identification, queries and remote connection. -Combination of layers, calculation of routes, editing "redline", printing to scale.

	MapXtreme (Mapinfo)	ArcIMS(ESRI)	GeoWeb Publisher (Bentley)	MapGuide (AutoDesk)	Geomedia Webmap (Intergraph)	Manifold GIS
Access to CAD formats	Does not read native CAD data	Requires ArcMap Server	Just read Microstation Geographics and Oracle Spatial formats	Requires Desing Server, only reads DWF	Read almost all CAD / GIS formats except Mapinfo	Almost any format, but within the DB.
Required Clients	No additional component required	Requires a Java plugin	It only requires a free plugin (VPR)	Requires a Java Applet	Requires a proprietary Micrografx Applet	IIS that comes with Windows
Lee Oracle Spatial	si	Yes, also SQL Server native 2008	si	si	si	Yes, almost all native.
They can be stored in NT and Linux	Yes allow both	Yes allow both	si	si	si	No, only Windows via ASP.
Indepence with regard to GIS tool	No.	Requires ArcView as data server	No.	No.	No.	Si
They have wizards	si	si	Yes, although it does require programming	If it requires programming	No.	Si

A choice of which is better, becomes difficult, especially because the document has some time lag, although these are some of the conclusions:

• If you try to avoid the problem of having to install a plug-in, the best option is MapXtreme.
• If it is required to publish CAD or GIS formats subject to constant maintenance, Geomedia Web o ArcIMSAre the best option.
• If you want to show cartography in CAD format, without much advanced functionality, Bentley Geoweb Publisher y MapGuideAre the best alternative.
• If you are looking for solutions compatible with Windows NT and UNIX, the best solutions are MapXtreme y ArcIMS
• If you want simplicity and economy, GIS Manifold
• Of course this is with proprietary software, in opensource MapBender, MapServer, GeoServer or MapGuide OpenSource Solve and in many cases with greater capacity than the solutions paid.

Prices? We talked about them before, Although there was not Geomedia, but there was Cadcorp. It is surprising that almost all of this can be done by open source platforms, yes Those that are not popular, although a cadastre department in a country requires a decision for a market tool, many times for sustainability ... and in others for dark games