Integrating GIS tools in the Web Services Architecture of GBIF
Beller, Aaron. The Hebrew University of JerusalemGIS technology has been a valuable tool for biodiversity research for a number of years. GIS functionality can be embedded in special purpose environmental software (such as models) or appear within a GIS software package. GIS packages can be classified as commercial or non-commercial (including open source). This talk will discuss the potential role of GIS packages within the GBIF framework.
It is possible / probable that within a Web Service (WS) architecture, GBIF Nodes will develop specific services that include GIS technology from scratch (without a GIS package). Furthermore, we can assume that GIS packages will provide tools for developing WSs. I shall analyze how, within what scope of function, and to which types of users, GIS packages will be useful within the GBIF framework. This will sandwich GIS packages between simple WSs and computationally intensive modeling.
Lastly I will discuss the pros and cons of open source and commercial GIS packages, and reach the conclusion that within a WS architecture, both types of packages can and should thrive side by side.