RIMapperWMS: a Web Map Service providing SVG maps with a built-in client

This paper introduces RIMapperWMS, a light-weight web mapping application that conforms to the Open Geospatial Consortium’s Web Map Service specification. It serves interactive web maps from a spatial database back-end. Compared to existing WMS implementations, it stands out firstly because it serves its maps in the Scalable Vector Graphics format. This allows it to offer high-quality vector cartography, specially suitable for mobile devices such as PDA’s and smartphones. Secondly, RIMapperWMS includes so-called VendorSpecific Capabilities that the OGC specification allows, in this case enabling it to produce the SVG output with a built-in Graphical User Interface, allowing the data to be disseminated to any SVG-capable application, without the need for a separate WMS client.