The design and development of an interface into geo-spatial information on the Internet
The flexibility of the Internet means that there are a number of different ways to build an interface into geo-spatial data and information on the Internet. Recently, Skylinesoft (http://www.skylinesoft.com/) released their vision of a 'Digital Earth', which allows users to download a piece of viewing software, and then download various data for different parts of the Earth (e.g. Washington, Israel, the Grand Canyon, Paris). This data can then be veiwed using the software as a virtual environment (using real satellite imagery). The software allows the user to navigate the environment, and also click on hyperlinks within it to go to other data and information held at other relevant websites. This type of application can essentially be thought of as a geographic metaphor interface, where the user navigates a realistic representation of the environment that they wish to find data and information for (the popular Windows desktop interface is a desktop metaphor, where the Windows interface represents a real desktop).

The Solway Firth Geo-spatial Data and Information Viewer allows you to interactively view the different multimedia components of the GDSPDS in an integrated environment. It is built using HTML and Active Server Pages (ASP) that allow online access to data stored in a databse held on the server.

Maps
Interactive map and GIS system using ESRI's ArcIMS Internet GIS map software

Imagery
Display and manipulate satellite imagery and aerial photography for different parts of the Solway Firth.Search for and retrieve imagery using an on-line image database

Pictures
Search a picture database for panoramic photography, location photos, coastal animations and coastal video clips

VR
View virtual coastal fly-thrus and 3D scenes of coastal areas

Data & Metadata
Upload or download the data sets used in the GIS section of this site.
Download metadata, raster maps and find links to other data sources

Contact
Contact the administrators of the GDSPDS or members of the Solway Firth Partnership

Help
Get help on any aspect of the GDSPDS system

Close this viewer
Close the viewer down and return to the GDSPDS main pages