MapCow<title> <meta name="description" content="MapCow: Online flash maps"> <meta name="keywords" content="map, SWF, flash"> <meta name="design" content="litmus digital"> <meta name="robots" content="all"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="css/mapcow_css.css" type="text/css"> <script src="/utilities/main.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <style type="text/css">  </style> </head> <body> <center> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="800"> <tr> <td width="1" bgcolor="#e0d2c3"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="6" bgcolor="#e0d2c3"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="787" bgcolor="#e0d2c3"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="6" bgcolor="#e0d2c3"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#e0d2c3"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td colspan="2">  <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <tr> <td width="200" class="mapcow_logo"><a href="index.shtml"><img src="img/mapcow_logo.gif" title="MapCow - Maps made simple!" alt="MapCow - Maps made simple!" border="0"></a></td> <td width="1"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="593"> <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=7,0,0,0" width="540" height="180" id="MC_header" align="middle"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="movie" value="loader.swf" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /> <embed src="loader.swf" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="540" height="180" name="MC_header" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /> </object> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" height="1"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="200"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="1"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="593"><h1>How it works</h1></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" height="10"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> </table>  <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <tr> <td width="10" rowspan="99"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="170"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="19" rowspan="99"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="1" rowspan="99"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="593"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="180" valign="top" align="right"> <table>  <tr class="right"> <td><a href="index.shtml" class="navtext1">Maps made simple!</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="5"><img src="img/shim.gif" alt="*" title="*"></td> </tr> <tr class="right"> <td><a href="howitworks.shtml" class="navtext1">How it works</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="5"><img src="img/shim.gif" alt="*" title="*"></td> </tr>  <tr class="right"> <td><a href="bovine_studies.shtml" class="navtext1">Bovine Studies</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="5"><img src="img/shim.gif" alt="*" title="*"></td> </tr> <tr class="right"> <td><a href="contact_us.shtml" class="navtext1">Contact Us</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="5"><img src="img/shim.gif" alt="*" title="*"></td> </tr> <tr class="right"> <td><a href="tell_a_friend.shtml" class="navtext1">Tell A Friend</a></td> </tr> </table> </td> <td valign="top">MapCow takes standard Geographical Information System (GIS) outputs and transforms them into an interactive online mapping experience in your web browser. Comprised of <span class="flashM_b">f</span><span class="dataM_b">o</span><span class="mapT_b">u</span><span class="mapV_b">r</span> tightly integrated modules, MapCow allows the most effective implementation of today’s leading web technologies to achieve a specific goal – creating the best online mapping tool possible (to see how MapCow behaves in the wild, visit <a href="http://www.karabo.org.za/" target="_blank">Karabo</a>). <h2>Prime Cuts of the MapCow:</h2> • <span class="flashM_b">flashMapper</span> – transforms binary data into Adobe® Flash® files (SWF)<br /> • <span class="dataM_b">dataManager</span> - enables data to be managed by a range of administrative users<br /> • <span class="mapT_b">mapTools</span> - allows data to be queried and rendered as required<br /> • <span class="mapV_b">mapViewer</span> – displays layers of relevant data at different zoom levels<br /> <span class="dataM_b"><a name="mapcow" id="mapcow"></a></span><br /> <img src="img/mapcow_process.jpg" usemap="#MapCow_Process" border="0" width="560" height="449" alt="GIS outputs turned into an online mapping experience" title="GIS outputs turned into an online mapping experience"> <map name="MapCow_Process"> <area shape="rect" coords="284,34,377,79" href="#datamanager" alt="Learn more about the Data Manager" title="Learn more about the Data Manager"> <area shape="rect" coords="408,34,486,74" href="#maptools" alt="Learn more about the Map Tools" title="Learn more about the Map Tools"> <area shape="rect" coords="295,97,385,141" href="#flashmapper" alt="Learn more about the Flash Mapper" title="Learn more about the Flash Mapper"> <area shape="rect" coords="405,81,491,125" href="#mapviewer" alt="Learn more about the Map Viewer" title="Learn more about the Map Viewer"> </map> <br /> </p><br /> <br /> <hr /> <span class="dataM_b"><a name="flashmapper" id="flashmapper"></a></span><span class="flashM_b">flashMapper</span><br /> <br /> <span class="flashM"><a href="#mapcow"><img src="img/back.gif" alt="back to top ^" width="70" height="32" border="0" align="right" /></a>flashMapper</span> is MapCow’s server application that transforms source data into lightweight Adobe® Flash® map files for display via the <span class="mapV">mapViewer</span> and manipulation via <span class="mapT">mapTools</span>. The application also extracts GIS related data managed via the <span class="dataM">dataManager</span> module.<br /> <br /> <span class="flashM">flashMapper</span> has the following features: <ul> <li>Adobe® Flash® format map files are rendered from various standard GIS file format inputs, including ESRI Shapefile, PostGIS, Oracle Spatial, Mapinfo mid/mif, OCAD and Custom SQL. <li>Before Adobe® Flash® file generation, various stylistic and resolution detail characteristics of the vector file output can be adjusted and set in <span class="flashM">flashMapper</span>. <li>For each GIS data set, multiple custom styled versions can be created for display in <span class="mapV">mapViewer</span>, at various user-specified zoom levels. <li>Map feature attributes such as name labels and map symbols can be fully customised via <span class="flashM">flashMapper</span>. <li>Raster layers (e.g. satellite photo images) can be prepared for display in <span class="mapV">mapViewer</span> alongside the vector layers. <li>All GIS related data fields in the source data files can be extracted with <span class="flashM">flashMapper</span> and accessed with <span class="dataM">dataManager</span> and other customised <span class="mapT">mapTools</span> for display in <span class="mapV">mapViewer</span>. <li>All Adobe® Flash® format map file- and folder-names are encoded, preventing them being stolen from the web site for unauthorised use elsewhere (each application's <span class="mapV">mapViewer</span> is configured to read only its own encoded files). </ul> <a name="datamanager" id="datamanager"></a><br /> <br /> <span class="dataM_b">dataManager</span><br /> <div> <br /> <span class="dataM"><a href="#mapcow"><img src="img/back.gif" alt="back to top ^" width="70" height="32" border="0" align="right" /></a>dataManager</span> is MapCow's extensible data management tool that allows extracted GIS data to be merged with relational data for display via <span class="mapV">mapViewer</span> and <span class="mapT">mapTools</span>.<br /> <br /> <span class="dataM">dataManager</span> has the following features:</div> <ul> <li>Enterprise level relational database design created for each unique application, ensuring effective web-based management of the data tables (extracted by <span class="flashM">flashMapper</span> from source data) plus the integration of additional data tables derived from external sources.<br /> </li> <li>Customisable user group access (including Administrator users) for each application, enabling secure web-based data management.<br /> </li> <li>Multiple record set views<br /> </li> <li>Sortable table column listing view of text and picture elements<br /> </li> <li>Detailed datafield view for specific record consideration<br /> </li> <li>Multiple record location functionality<br /> </li> <li>Quick keyword searching of all records <br /> </li> <li>More advanced filtering system to find any combination of keywords, dates or GIS coordinates.</li> </ul> <a name="maptools" id="maptools"></a> <span class="mapT_b">mapTools</span><br /> <div> <br /> <span class="mapT"><a href="#mapcow"><img src="img/back.gif" alt="back to top ^" width="70" height="32" border="0" align="right" /></a>mapTools</span> is MapCow's extensible data access and display tool that allows data (GIS data and other data types) residing in <span class="dataM">dataManager</span> to be queried and rendered (either in specific data display interfaces or via <span class="mapV">mapViewer</span>).<br /> <br /> <span class="mapT">mapTools</span> has the following features:<br /> <br /> </div> The <span class="mapT">mapTools</span> component simplifies the data display and geographic map positioning process by providing an interface to manage the following:<br /> <ul> <li><span class="mapV">mapViewer’s</span> map graphics<br /> </li> <li>map positioning controls <br /> </li> <li>textual data elements <br /> </li> <li>other controls in the web interface </li> </ul> Whilst bespoke <span class="mapT">mapTools</span> modules can be created in response to specific application issues, a comprehensive collection ships as standard. <br /> <br /> Standard <span class="mapT">mapTools</span> modules include: <ul> <li>Mini-Map module - shows the broader area view of the graphical map display <br /> <br /> </li> <li>Drop down Menu module - enables the display of any data field (or hierarchy of related data fields like areas or categories) and, upon selection, triggers the appropriate positioning of map graphics in the <span class="mapV">mapViewer</span> interface. <br /> <br /> Examples: <br /> <ul> <li>the selection of a specific area name (via the Area hierarchy drop down) can re-position the graphical map display in in <span class="mapV">mapViewer</span> to show the relevant area.<br /> </li> <li>the selection of a specific business category can trigger the display of related business hotspots in <span class="mapV">mapViewer</span>.<br /> <br /> </li> </ul> </li> <li>Search Box module - allows user specified data, like street names or points of interest names, to be queried against the data records in <span class="dataM">dataManager</span><br /> <br /> </li> <li>Data Results display area - displays textual results from Search Box queries or Drop Down selections and triggers the relevant map positioning and points of interest display in <span class="mapV">mapViewer</span>.<br /> <br /> </li> <li>Active Result module - displays the latest result record (activated by a text link or clickable map element). <br /> <br /> </li> <li>Detail Data display area - displays detailed data for a selected- or active result.</li> </ul> <a name="mapviewer" id="mapviewer"></a> <span class="mapV_b">mapViewer</span><br /> <br /> <div><span class="mapV"><a href="#mapcow"><img src="img/back.gif" alt="back to top ^" width="70" height="32" border="0" align="right" /></a>mapViewer</span> is MapCow's geographic map display module and allows for fast and effective display of various layers containing Adobe Flash vector map files, raster images or interactive points/areas of interest. <br /> <br /> <span class="mapV">mapViewer</span> has the following features:</div> <ul> <li> Integration with any other web interfaces as a web service - the positioning of the map display can be controlled by any external control, provided acceptable GIS and map scale parameters are passed to the application.<br /> </li> <li>Sliding zoom control bar, responsive to mouse drag and mouse wheel actions. <br /> </li> <li>Marquee tool - renders a detailed, zoomed in map from the currently displayed map (generated when the user draws a rectangular shape into the current map)<br /> </li> <li>Display of relevant interactive points or areas of interest that exist in <span class="dataM">dataManager</span> as GIS reference points or any other viewable data types. </li> <li>Interactive points and areas can be customised to contain controls that can change map positioning or summon the display of additional data – for instance, the Detailed Data displayed for an Active Result. <br /> </li> </ul> <hr /> To see how MapCow behaves in the wild, visit <a href="http://www.karabo.org.za/" target="_blank">Karabo</a>. </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td background="img/shadow_right.gif"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#e0d2c3"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td height="20"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td background="img/shadow_right.gif"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#e0d2c3"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td background="img/shadow_left_edge.gif" width="6"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td background="img/shadow_bottom.gif" height="6"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> <td background="img/shadow_corner.gif" width="6"><img src="img/shim.gif" width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> </table> <br /> <span class="litmus">a <a href="http://www.litmusdigital.com" title="usable digital solutions">litmus digital</a> web site</span> </center> </body> </html>