City of Santa Cruz Embraces AGS/Flex
Rich Westfall, GIS Coordinator
GIS Web Implementation Specific City Business Need Identified
• Goals Developed• Map Choice Made
Zoning Viewer
Our Goals
Create mapping website that’s:• Simple to use/Intuitive• Meaningful• Targeted audience
don’t compete with Google Maps
• Attractive
Staff Strategy
GIS Coordinator – • Handle graphics, Flex (web application) development,
coordination of all technical aspects, cartography (map authoring), ArcGIS Server (services/caching/tweaking)
Planning Staff – • Identify data to serve, oversight of cartography and tools.
IT Network Administrator – • Handle proxy architecture in DMZ
Development Process 6 months from Idea to Live
• Flex Builder • Development system architecture set up• ArcGIS Server set up• MXD’s developed
Lots of Feed back• Testing
Systems Performance Aesthetics Versions
• Alpha – Internal to IT• Beta 1 – Internal to select city staff• Beta 2 – External to select group in user community• Release 1 – General Public Release
• Maintain Project Goals
Architectural Schematic
Santa Cruz City GISSCUSI System Architecture
Bringing the Pieces Together
SCUSI
Santa Cruz Urban Services Information
SCUSI Map Original Scope
• Request: Public to view city zoning by property• Business Need: Reduce public phone calls to Planning staff requesting the zoning by property• GIS Needed
• parcels, zoning, addresses find & property ID To Reach a Bigger Audience
• Added More City GIS Data & County Assessor Data Tie to Santa Cruz County Assessor Data Sensitive Habitat/Sensitive Species General Plan Designations and Planning Areas Flood zones Historic/Archeological data Aerial Imagery 2007 3in Color
• Development of and/or use of: Transparency slider bar for aerials X/Y coordinate display Measurement tools Google Street View Bing Birds Eye Census Tools Zillow.com
What is CCJDC GIS Up To? Who currently owns ArcGIS Server (AGS)?
• Actively using ArcGIS services? Have you used Adobe Flash? Of course you have! How many ArcIMS users? How many .NET Web ADF users? Are you looking to get an ArcGIS server based web
map up and running soon?
ArcGIS Server and Flex:Here’s the Scoop
What is Flex Adobe development platform based on Adobe Flash Player
client• End users require web browser and Adobe Flash Player (most
computers have Flash installed) Flex Builder IDE
• IDE based on Eclipse Java IDE• Actionscript - JavaScript based scripting language• MXML – Proprietary XML based user interface markup language
Similar technologies• Microsoft Silverlight
Why Flex
Web 2.0 – “software-applications entirely through a browser”
Relatively straight forward development process Easy to deploy applications Well integrated with ArcGIS Server Other alternatives (ArcIMS, Web ADF, MS
Silverlight)
Flex and ArcGIS Server
Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)• Must have ArcGIS Server Running and exposing services• All transactions between the Flash Player Client and AGS
(ArcGIS Server) happen via REST based service endpoints exposed by the server
• Example REST service endpoint (map service) http://gis.cityofsantacruz.com/ArcGIS/rest/
services/Planning/MapServer• Flash is a client platform. Only requests to AGS leave the client.
There is no server component to Flash/Flex Platform
Steps to get Going
Install ArcGIS Server, create map services Download Adobe Flex Builder
• http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/entitlement/index.cfm?e=flex3email Free for 60 days ($250+/- to buy)
Download AGS API for Flex library• http://resources.esri.com/arcgisserver/apis/flex/index.cfm?
fa=downloadDisclaimer Free
Add AGS Flex API library (.swc file) to project Create application
Tips and Tricks
Read the ArcGIS API for Flex Overview• http://help.arcgis.com/en/webapi/flex/index.html
Utilize ESRI Samples• http://help.arcgis.com/en/webapi/flex/samples/index.html• http://help.arcgis.com/en/webapi/flex/gallery.html
Learn “Flex in a Week”• http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/videotraining/
Build components instead of building single file monster
SCUSI Demo
Did We Accomplish Our Goals? Goals Checklist
• Provide requested property information to Santa Cruz resident
• Show map and aerial views• Provide selected 3rd party services
Google Street View Bing’s Birds Eye Zillow
• Fast• Attractive• Intuitive
Things to Consider Application:
• Meet your business need• Don’t try to be everything for everyone in one application
Flex can be simple or complex depending on:• How big your application gets• How many customized controls you need to create (moveable, closable
panels) Maps and map services
• Put in the time and attention into the details Symbology, labeling, caching, etc…
Setup a well oiled deployment mechanism.• Local development PC testing• Internal testing server• Public production server
Impressions Favorable Customer Feedback - yes High productivity – yes (Water Infrastructure Map in a week)
Rich toolset to work with - yes
Recommendations If you have ArcGIS Server, some
programming skills and a web presence, then Flex may be for you.
Questions
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