Design and evaluation of a Web mapping service for the Klamath River Basin

The management of natural resources requires many, diverse types of geographic data for effective decision-making. Typically, the effort required to share this data across different systems has been a significant barrier to geographic information system (GIS) analysis. Open standards developed by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) are intended to increase interoperability of spatial data and facilitate efficient distribution of this data over the Internet. This project examines use of Web Mapping Services (WMS) to deliver remotely stored, spatial datasets to common desktop GIS software. The prototype system serves a variety of existing vector and raster GIS datasets for the Klamath River Basin. Class exercises utilizing WMS were incorporated into two undergraduate GIS lab assignments. Effectiveness of the WMS approach was assessed and compared to traditional file-based methods by using survey questions and in-class observations. The WMS provided a solid framework for interoperable GIS data distribution in a networked environment, but there is much need for improvement of client-side usability and overall functionality.