ESRI’s ArcIMS vs. Intergraph’s GeoMedia WebMap for GIS over the web

1. ESRI’s ArcIMSvs.Intergraph’sGeoMedia WebMapfor GIS over the web • Contributors: • James Janning • Michael Wallace • Justin Johnson

2. Introduction • Web-based GIS applications are a means to distribute geographic data to end users without GIS software • End users, because of these web-based products can view this data using their existing web browser • The two products examined here are ESRI’s ArcIMS and Intergraph’s GeoMedia WebMap

3. Web-based GISapplication basics: • Must incorporate clients, middleware, web GIS software, data, and servers • Basic procedure: • Client sends request for map via web browser • Request goes to application on server called middleware, which interprets the request for the web-based GIS software • The web-based GIS software (also on the server) then processes the request by querying its spatial database(s) for the appropriate spatial entity/attribute data necessary for the requested map • The GIS software then sends the map data back to the middleware application for reinterpretation • Middleware application then sends completed map image to the client’s internet browser for viewing

4. Web-based GIS application requirements/responsibilities • Send & receive appropriate data • Organize multiple requests • Maximize processing efficiency • Determine output format • Provide usable templates

5. ESRI’s ArcIMS: • Can serve data in two different formats, raster and vector • Raster: • Distributed in JPG, PNG, or GIF format • Requires no additional client software • Vector: • Requires a Java plug-in on the client side • The plug in is downloaded and installed automatically • Vector streaming technology provided through the use of ArcXML

6. ArcIMS (continued) • Advantages: • Out-of-the-box usability • Capability of administering server software from a remote location • Can share data with other ESRI GIS software, including data from the ArcIMS website • Can be loaded on a UNIX platform • ArcIMS has had a web-based product since 1990 • Disadvantages: • Inability to use non-ESRI data sources without conversion • Dependence on non-ESRI software products for use as middleware

7. Intergraph’sGeoMedia WebMap: • Can serve data in two formats, raster and vector • Raster: • Distributed in JPG, PNG, or GIF format • Requires no additional client software • Vector: • Distributed in ActiveCGM (computer graphics metafile) format • Requires ActiveCGM plug-in on the client-side • Plug-in must be installed by the user • Plug-in is limited to a Windows OS platform and must use Internet Explorer or Netscape

8. WebMap (continued) • Advantages: • Open GIS solution that uses no proprietary languages or data formats • Disadvantages: • CGM plug-in is a major component of WebMap, however, Intergraph does not own it • CGM plug-in must be downloaded by client, which may require instruction and may cause problems • CGM plug-in only works on Windows platforms • Custom applications are difficult, time consuming, and therefore expensive to write

9. Cost Comparison • ESRI’s ArcIMS • First CPU is $7,500 • Additional CPUs are $5,000 each • Intergraph’s GeoMedia WebMap • $10,000 for two CPUs • Intergraph’s GeoMedia WebEnterprise • $24,000 for two CPUs • Keep in mind • Any customizing of these products will require many programming hours, which can become very costly and needs to be recognized as a legitimate expense, and ArcIMS is the only one of the two that can be used out-of-the-box

10. Product Summary Pricing Server Requirements Vector Data Output Data Input

11. Concluding Remarks • Intergraph’s GeoMedia WebMap is more flexible from a data usage standpoint, therefore, if multiple data types will be utilized, WebMap is a reasonable choice • ESRI’s ArcIMS is more flexible from the server setup standpoint • Bear in mind that although on the surface, both products appear to cost about the same, the ultimate cost is relative to product of man/hours for setup and functionality/benefit of the final product