A Practical

Introduction
to MapServer
Steve Lime
Minnesota DNR

GIS Day 2008 @ !
MapServer
Past
" #$$% & ' pro(ram &) ArcPlot AML
" #$$* & NASA sponsors +orNet
" #$$, & shapelib released
" #$$$ & NASA sponsors -erraSIP
" 2000 & MapServer ./0 release
" 200. & MapServer 0/0 release
" 200, & MapServer %/0 release

GIS Day 2008 @ !
MapServer
Present
" %/2 is t1e current version
2%/0 actively 3ein( developed
" #04 developers 5orld5ide
" 262004 mailin( list su3scri3ers
" Part o7 8SGeo +oundation

GIS Day 2008 @ !

GIS Day 2008 @ !
Gettin(
MapServer
" 'ompile 7rom source
2mapserver/(is/umn/edu9do5nload
2su3version access
" :inary distri3utions
2;indo5s< maptools/or(9ms059
2Mac and Linu= >pac?a(e9@MA
" Bosted environments

GIS Day 2008 @ !
MapServer
8vervie5
" ' li3rary >libmap.a/.dllA and API
" 'GI inter7ace >mapservA
" !tility pro(rams 7or automatin( map components
" !tility pro(rams 7or manipulatin( GIS data
" @arious 7lavors o7 a scriptin( API called MapScript
MapServer is a collection of software that is
MapServer is a collection of software that is
used to put together web mapping applications
used to put together web mapping applications
in a particular way. When built you have:
in a particular way. When built you have:

GIS Day 2008 @ !
8pen Source GIS
So7t5are Stac?
MapServer
MapScript CGI
CartoWeb
Fusion
a!Map
"pen#ayers
Map$ender
MapFish
p.mapper
GeoMoose
MapStorer
MapWindow
%GIS
gvSIG
G&'#("G)
*ostGIS
*ro+.,
G-"S
.ileCache

GIS Day 2008 @ !
MapServer
License
" :asically MI-9C##
" Give credit 51ere credit is due 3ut
no 5arranty
" -1eory 5as t1at a li3eral license
leads to adoption
" -a?es a positive vie5 o7 1uman
nature

GIS Day 2008 @ !
MapServer
+eatures
" Simple6 ro3ust and 7ast
" Map and map component
renderin(6 7eature Duery
" Support 7or doEens o7 GIS data
7ormats includin( spatial RDMS
" Pra(matic support 7or most 8G'
5e3 service speci7ications

GIS Day 2008 @ !
Bo5 it ;or?s
web server
MapServer CGI
/..*
spatial
data
map
files
template
files
/..*
MapServer application

GIS Day 2008 @ !
MapServer
Map7iles
MAP
NAME 'hello_world'
SIZE 300 300
IMAGECOLOR 143 188 143
EXTENT -00 -00 00 00
LA!ER
NAME "howd#"
STAT$S %E&A$LT
T!PE ANNOTATION
&EAT$RE
POINTS
0 0
EN%
TEXT ''ello (orld'
EN%
CLASS
LA)EL
T!PE )ITMAP
COLOR 0 0 0
EN%
EN%
EN%
EN% * e+d o, -./

GIS Day 2008 @ !
MapServer
Map7iles
MAP
NAME 0MN Co1+23e4'
SIZE 300 300
IMAGECOLOR 55 55 55
EXTENT 15105 468541
688373 5488647
LA!ER
NAME 89o1+23e48
%ATA 89o1+23e4:4h/8
STAT$S %E&A$LT
T!PE POL!GON
CLASS
ST!LE
COLOR 181 181 181
O$TLINECOLOR 0 0 0
EN%
EN%
EN%
EN% * e+d o, -./

GIS Day 2008 @ !
MapServer
Post&Goo(le Maps
" Ric1 internet applications
" Reliance on services9mas1ups
" -iles are 3ac? in vo(ue
" !ser >and or(aniEationalA
e=pectations elevated
" Des?top GIS as a nic1e

GIS Day 2008 @ !

GIS Day 2008 @ !
MapServer
+uture
" Stay true to Dualities t1at 1ave
made MapServer a success
2Per7ormance
2Renderin( options and Duality
2-iled renderin( support
" Improved documentation and
5e3site
" Improved security

GIS Day 2008 @ !
More In7ormation
" Steve/Lime@dnr/state/mn/us
" mapserver/(is/umn/edu
" 555/dnr/state/mn/us
" 555/os(eo/or(