Spatial Application of city using Oracle Spatial Database, MapViewer, and Map Builder

Abstract

It was not possible in case of traditional database to store, analyze, visualize, and integrate spatial data in business and government applications. GIS systems store spatial and non-spatial data separately. This split data model has several drawbacks. Oracle spatial provides a completely open and standards-based architecture for the management of spatial data within a database management system. This research paper describes the process of developing a spatial application of Patiala city using Oracle spatial technologies. A simple graph is first created using the map of Patiala (obtained from Google Maps tool) and the coordinates of main locations of Patiala are figured out using this graph. A spatial database is then designed by using tables for colleges, roads, banks and Thapar University. MapViewer tool is used to integrate and visualize spatial data with maps. Oracle Map Builder tool is used to define the MapViewer mapping metadata that includes styles, themes and base maps. MapBuilder is used to define line styles for road map of Patiala city. Different color styles are used for representing colleges, roads, banks, Thapar University and main locations of Patiala. Themes are defined by combining different styles and it gives visual representation of data layer. Predefined themes are grouped together to form a base map. This provides a convenient way to include multiple themes in a map request. A base map is generated by putting one or more themes at one place. Data source and Tile layer has been created in MapViewer to connect with the database. The spatial application is developed in HTML and JavaScript code with the use of Map Viewer's JavaScript mapping library. This application shows the map of Patiala city and is featured with various map options like navigation panel and distance tools etc. Our developed system has the provision to view different locations depicted in the map. It has also a feature to find the distance between two locations in the map.