Advanced web application for editing purposes in disaster management

The paper describes a unique idea on-screen editing of both spatial and attributes data directly via the Internet environment. It takes advantage of WebGIS 2.0 principle as a combination of WebGIS and Web 2.0 approaches (Rich Internet Application and Service-oriented Architecture). It allows the creation of a web-based map application with customized and advanced functionality. The concept of Rich Internet Application (RIA) brings tools, practices and conventions from the desktop platform into fully web applications, thereby providing greater user comfort. In the case of Service-oriented architecture (SOA), a user does not deal with original data as was typical before. The data are shared as web services independently on the platform. Web Map Service (WMS) or Web Feature Service (WFS) are now widely used for GIS solutions. An extension called Transactional Web Feature Service (WFS-T) enables data editing by remote access. Usually, a desktop or server solution is required for map display and/or editing. This case study uses the WFS-T innovative approach for WebGIS 2.0 solutions. The WFST support has been developed and implemented into a customized application by an additional widget. It extends the visualisation feature by the editing feature. Both visualization and editing tasks are fully accessible online. The map client allows on-screen editing of map content. Both spatial and attribute data could be modified in real time directly via a web browser (no installation process is required). The case study is developed with the aim to support crisis management, especially in collaboration with the Fire Brigade of the Olomouc region.