La cartografia in rete e nelle applicazioni WEBGIS

The term WEBGIS (alternatively WEB-based GIS, Online GIS, Distributed GIS) is used to indicate via Internet/Intranet use of Geographic Information Systems functions, so to supply georeferred information to users. As well as in no-web applications, element of fundamental importance is cartography, or, in other terms, the representation of hearth surface (or part of it), to which databases are linked. Presence of cartographic files in web does not imply WEBGIS: sometimes there are only static pages to which user accesses without activation of spatial analysis. In this paper, considering bibliographic research and experiments conducted at Geomatic Laboratory of Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of University of Naples “Parthenope”, an overview on state of art concerning maps in WEB and in WEBGIS is supplied. Particularly, criteria for distinction and classification of possibilities to insert and use geographic data in Internet and to manipulate them are evidenced. Principal characteristics of languages, formats and standards to insert in Internet maps are considered, such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics); particular attention is reserved to GML (Generalized Markup Language) from OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium), which can include in each feature both spatial information as well as attributes (generally included in linked alphanumeric databases).