A real-time and open geographic information system and its application for smart rivers: A case study of the Yangtze River

Abstract

The timely sharing and interoperation of multi-source cross-sectoral information is an important issue for a Geographic Information System (GIS). To study this issue, a real-time and open GIS model called GeoSensor is proposed in this work. GeoSensor integrates the real-time GIS model, real-time computation framework, and Open Geospatial Consortium services. This paper illustrates the system architecture and the implementation methods of the GeoSensor. One of the methods developed is the conceptual mapping of a real-time GIS data model to open GIS models and services and a real-time computation framework. The other method developed is the integration of open GIS services, a real-time computation framework, and hybrid databases. The GeoSensor was tested in a case study of building a smart river. In the case study, a comprehensive sensor web was constructed and integrated with the real-time information on rainfall, beacon, channel, sediment, and water levels derived from space-based sensors, air-borne sensors, and underground sensors from multiple sectors in the Yangtze River basin. The GeoSensor manages the comprehensive sensor web with 32 types of sensors and more than 10 billion observation records. Three application systems were developed based on the GeoSensor to manage flood control, hydropower production, and navigation of the Yangtze River. The results of the three application systems show that the real-time and open system improves the management efficiency of the Yangtze River. This system is promising for managing smart rivers.