“We selected the DK for a GIS software application being developed under direct contract with the Land Forces (Army) element of the Canadian Forces (CF).

We had previously developed a prototype application for placing safety templates on digital maps using ArcView 3.2a, but found the cost of user licenses to be impractical considering the demand for deployment across the army.

The Land Forces considered using the MapObjects (ActiveX) component with Delphi, but found MapObjects to lack certain functionality and involve license restrictions that could hinder distribution.

The final decision to opt for the TatukGIS DK was based on favorable results from an initial DK-based prototype and on the prompt and helpful insight into difficult features provided by the TatukGIS support center.

Because there are no DK license restrictions in desktop deployment situations, the cost of distribution across the army will be negligible.”

Private Contractor

Canadian Department of Defense – Land Forces

Ottawa, Canada

∞ TatukGIS Consulting

(The following description of this TatukGIS DK based application was provided by Niall Donald, with Oxford Archaeology. Niall has been a DK-VCL licensed user since March, 2002)

Based in the United Kingdom, Framework Archaeology, a joint venture between Oxford Archaeology and Wessex Archaeology, used the TatukGIS DK to handle the archaeological mapping when distributing the results of archaeological investigations at London Heathrow and London Stansted airports, on behalf of BAA, the operators. The Framework Free Viewer is intended to accompany the publication of the results of the excavations and will be distributed on CD-Rom but is currently being used to aid communication between different communities of archaeologists analysing the results of the work in the field.

In capturing and analysing the work done on site, Framework Archaeology used modern surveying methods to build digital maps of the using standard mapping software from leading software companies. These could be attached to databases of the objects recovered and used as an aid to understanding what was being excavated and what had been excavated. However, in order to distribute these maps and databases widely Framework Archaeology needed to be able to side-step licensing issues with the chosen software. While royalty-free viewers are widely available for geographic information systems data, typically a user might require a detailed knowledge of the data in order to get best use from them. Framework Archaeology chose therefore to write its own viewer specifically for the types of data it was producing with an emphasis on simplicity and ease of use.

Why Framework Archaeology chose TatukGIS

Once Framework Archaeology had decided to create its own viewer, it was necessary to find the right tool to allow us to successfully create a simple but sophisticated GIS driven application which could be easily deployed. Royalty-free distribution was essential, but the final choice of tool was decided by price and by the clarity of the TatukGIS object model. Both were essential factors in allowing Framework Archaeology to minimise risk at the outset of designing the Free Viewer. It was clear that to succeed we needed to cover a lot of ground very quickly in the development, and from a programmer’s point of view, the ease with which a new tool could be understood, was critical. Support from TatukGIS support staff was always prompt and effective. The finished product uses a 3.1MB executable to handle more than 300MB of data.

The product was written with a specific, if wide-ranging aim. Subsequently, Framework Archaeology has found practical uses beyond the initial target audience. Field staff who need to refer to earlier field work carried out for BAA at T5 actively choose to look things up using the Framework Free Viewer, rather than using the system provided for the purpose which was based on standard desktop database and Geographic Information software. At the end of the day, the latter is more difficult to learn and more expensive to support.

A specialist in the analysis of ancient flint tools commented that the Framework Free Viewer, in comparison to using standard methods of team working in archaeology:

“Allowed a much better conceptualisation of the spatial distribution of finds, features and phasing. Vastly more convenient than grappling with plans and databases for the context information – therefore reducing time spent liasing with Project Officers. Allowed distribution of other finds (pottery, animal bone, etc.) to be viewed, thereby avoiding the tendency to treat different material types as isolated categories. Will in turn allow wider and more complex distributive patterns to be identified”



Framework Free Viewer: main application window showing the excavated areas and base mapping. The list of options in the tree view to the left gives some idea of the complexity of archaeological data.



Some Bronze Age settlements shown with their surrounding field systems and trackways

Locating archaeological deposits of medieval date by looking at the distribution of broken medieval pottery



Zooming in on the main concentration of medieval pottery and looking at part of the medieval landscape



Summary interpretations overlaid on the map



Textual descriptions and clickable, thumbnailed cross-sections across a ditch constructed in the Middle Ages



Details of any objects found, within the highlighted medieval ditch.



Graphing of the dating assigned to the objects and a thumbnail enlarged using the default image viewing program (in this case Irfanview) on the user’s machine.

∞ TatukGIS Consulting

J3llyh34d 1ndu5tr135 Limited

“Our development using the TatukGIS Developer Kernel depends on a huge TatukGIS PixelStore image layer store, comprised of multiple layers created from 25 GB of Ordnance Survey TIFF images of England, Scotland and Wales.

We are very impressed both with the PixelStore performance and that the resulting PixelStore-JPG database (in SQLite) is only 41 GB.

Believe me, the modest increase in size is a small price to pay for the PixelStore performance, which is absolutely fantastic. We also evaluated the MrSid image compression format for this project and determined that PixelStore was better when used with TatukGIS Developer Kernel.

And, besides just the PixelStore, the TatukGIS Developer Kernel (we use the .NET edition) generally compares very nicely to the other GIS SDK products which we carefully evaluated before purchasing the DK.”

J3llyh34d 1ndu5tr135 Limited
United Kingdom
info@j3llyh34d.com
http://www.j3llyh34d.com/

The TatukGIS DK VCL Training Kit has been updated to DK v.10.

Updates include full compliance with DK v.10 code changes as well as a new chapter on using the new 3D viewing capabilities of the DK.

For more information, please see the following link:

 http://training.tatukgisconsulting.com/2010/02/tatukgis-developer-kernel-vcl-training.html

*

The TatukGIS DK.NET Training Kit has been updated to DK v.10. 

Updates include full compliance with DK v.10 code changes as well as a new chapter on using the new 3D viewing capabilities of the DK.

For more information, please see the following link:

http://training.tatukgisconsulting.com/2009/10/tatukgis-developer-kernel-net-training.html

*

TatukGIS Consulting now offers the TatukGIS Editor Training Kit.

The Editor Training Kit can be ordered here.

TatukGIS Consulting has been working with the TatukGIS Editor since its initial release as well as with TatukGIS development tools since 2003 and has deep knowledge of the Editor and a close relationship with TatukGIS. Purchasing the Editor Training Kit allows users, developers, and organizations to substantially reduce the Editor learning curve and quickly begin using the powerful Editor application by tapping into the wealth of TatukGIS knowledge held by TatukGIS Consulting.

The TatukGIS Editor Training Kit includes a detailed training manual containing over 70 pages of hands-on instructional material covering 10 chapters that illustrate step-by-step how to use almost all aspects of the TatukGIS Editor.

The topics covered in the TatukGIS Editor Training Kit includes a broad range of the functionality offered by the the Editor. The following is the chapter index from the Editor Training Manual.

GIS BASICS.

LESSON 1. ADDING GIS LAYERS TO THE EDITOR AND SETTING UP A MAP PROJECT.

LESSON 10.  USING THE 3D PANEL: USING 3D LAYERS, CREATING 3D FEATURES, AND SETTING UP A DEM.

The FGIS plugin

Forestry GIS (FGIS), a plugin to the TatukGIS Editor product, extends the features of the Editor with a simple, easy-to-use, and customizable suite of tools aimed at making forestry and land management professionals’ jobs easier. As a plugin to the Editor, FGIS requires the Editor in order to function and retains all the Editor’s features. (The FGIS plugin was developed using the Editor’s built-in scripting features.)

The FGIS plugin can be used to update Acres (or any shape measurement) values for all polygons in a vector layer or display the Acreage (or any shape measurement) for all selected shapes in the view.  The FGIS plugin has tools for easily making polygons that share coincident boundaries.

The FGIS window.

The FGIS plugin can generate a random or systematic sample of points within an area.  The FGIS plugin can be used to search for a given Township, Range, and Section.

The FGIS plugin can be used to generate sample points or to search for a given Township/Range/Section.

With the FGIS plugin you can easily input a traverse description into a point layer. 

The FGIS plugin can be used to input a traverse description into a GIS layer.

The FGIS plugin includes tools for finding the best route and for displaying the GPS location in real-time.

The FGIS plugin is totally customizable and includes a detailed survey data input form that can be used as a template for the creation of other data input forms.

The customizable FGIS plugin data input form.

FGIS was created by a forester who is also a GIS developer, who has spent the last decade performing custom GIS development for a US state forestry program using TatukGIS and ESRI development tools. This experience provided a great deal of insight about the GIS related needs and preferences of forestry and land management professionals, which is reflected in FGIS.

License
The FGIS plugin is licensed per user and includes one year of updates and email support.

Purchasing Information
FGIS plugin license (including one year of updates and email support): US$49.00

To purchase a license or download the FGIS plugin, please visit fgis.tatukgisconsulting.com.

Features
The main features of the FGIS plugin include:

• Update Shape Measurement Fields
• Show Shape Measurements
• Search for Township/Range/Section
• Generate Cruise Points
• Add Traverse Points
• Customizable Data Input Form
• Spatial Selection dialog
• Bookmarks
• Send Map to Word
• Make Backgrounds of Orthophotos and DRG Topo images Transparent
• Field List Manager
• Subtract Polygon
• Drill Polygon
• Populate Field Values
• Clip Vector Layers
• Merge Vector Layers
• Buffer dialog
• Convert Points to Polygon or Line
• Image Catalog tool
• Routing and GPS tools
• Repath Project File
• Summary Statistics
• Fully customizable interface

Partially translated to:

• Portuguese
• Czech
• French
• German
• Polish
• Slovak
• Spanish
• Thai

Silverlight Map Server
Created using TatukGIS technology, the Silverlight Map Server is a programming framework that enables .NET developers to build rich and high performance web GIS applications.

Flexible and Extensible Architecture
The Silverlight Map Server is composed of a WMS server developed with Isapi Web Broker technology and a Silverlight library which communicates with the server through a simple XML based protocol. This lets the developer implement server side extensions with any web language that supports XML, e.g., ASP.NET, PHP, Java, etc. .

Platform Independent
Applications developed with the Silverlight Map Server are compatible with every browser supporting Silverlight 4.0 or higher, without any special requirement or installation on the client side (except the Silverlight plug-in, in the same way as is done with Flash). Supported operating systems include all versions of MS Windows, Mac and (in the future) Linux.

A web server application, developed with the Silverlight Map Server, for management of a fleet of trucks. The vector maps of the town of Appiano, Italy, are presented as a semi-transparent layer(s) over asatellite image from Bing Maps.

Rich User Experience
The Silverlight Map Server makes use of web technologies that maximize performance. The server side is composed of a WMS Server implemented as an Isapi module which stores the “state” of each client, practically making the application “Stateful”. In this way, time used to load the map is spent only once. The Silverlight technology delivers a web server experience that is particularly fluid and graphically attractive.

Bing Maps Integration
The Silverlight Map Server is integrated with the Bing Silverlight Map Control, giving the user the ability to visualize their own maps over satellite or road maps. This also exposes all features of Bing Maps (address geocoding, reverse geocoding, routing, etc).

Versions
The Silverlight Map Server is available in three different versions:

Standard: the server side is built using the graphic engine of the well known open source product UMN MapServer.

Professional: the server side is built using the graphic engine of the well known open source product UMN MapServer. Includes the client source code (Silverlight)

Enterprise: the server side is built using the TatukGIS DK.VCL. Includes the client source code (Silverlight)

The different graphic engine used by each version causes some differences in functionality and features. For a detailed description of these differences, please read the feature matrix below.

Feature Matrix

Support, Sources and samples included
The Silverlight Map Server package includes Silverlight libraries, with source included (professional and enterprise versions), server as binary, sample applications in C# for Visual Studio 2010, 1 year of updates and premium technical support (professional and enterprise versions).

License
The Silverlight Map Server is licensed per developer and per server. The package includes:

• 1 license for one developer, utilizable on 2 different computers.
• 1 license for one production server.

Subsequent deployments require only the purchase of additional server licenses.

Purchasing Information
Purchasing information can be found on the following link:  The Silverlight Map Server

Online Demos

Geomarketing

• Geomarketing – Deliveries
• Geomarketing on OpenStreetMap

Business Intelligence

• Sales data analysis

Fleet management

• GPS tracking of a truck

Cadastral

• Cadastral web GIS
• Cadastral web GIS – land use
• Regional web GIS (using Bing Maps satellite)
• Regional web GIS (using custom tile source derived from aerial images)

Download
Download a trial version (registration required)

Technical Details

Architecture
The Silverlight Map Server is composed of a client in Silverlight 4.0 and a WMS Server (OGC WMS 1.1.1 compliant) developed with Isapi web broker technology.

Architecture of the Silverlight Map Server

The software architecture of the Silverlight Map Server is composed of 3 main components:

• TkSilverlight.GIS: contains visual controls (map, legend, etc) and related business logic.
• TkSilverlight.Core: contains classes for communication with WMS Server, business entities and primitive GIS functions.
• WMS Server: provides maps, access to GIS functions and other services.

To access textual data, the developer can use the data gateway included in the WMS server, which accepts simple SQL commands and returns XML dataset that are immediately bindable with the Silverlight controls. Nevertheless, it is usually more convenient to implement a business logic layer in the language of choice, being the only requirement is the ability to read and write XML data via HTTP. ASP.NET samples are provided.

Software architecture of a typical solution built with the Silverlight Map Server

Main features of the Silverlight Map Server include:

• Development with Visual Studio 2010, Expression Blend and all IDEs that supports Silverlight 4.0.
• Main GIS functions (Zoom, Pan, selections, etc) already implemented.
• Grid visualizzation of vector data.
• Rendering of leading vector and raster formats.
• Overlay of vector or raster layers with Microsoft Bing Maps™ with customizable level of transparency.
• Legend.
• Selection of shape object by point, rectangle, circle and polygon.
• Measure tools: distance and area.
• Use of main layout functions (selections, labels, graphs, colors, etc.)
• Thematic maps.
• Query for each group of objects for name, class, type, etc.
• Creation of reports and PDF for high resolution prints.
• Geocoding and reverse geocoding.
• Built-in data gateway.
• Rendering of satellite and road maps.
• Rendering and management of POI (Points of Interest).
• Support for main RDBMS.
• Editing of attributes and geometries for vector layers.
• Support for other map providers besides Bing Maps: OpenStreetMap, Google Maps, Yahoo Maps.
• GPS tracking (this feature is a work in progress).
• Topological operations (this feature is a work in progress).

∞ TatukGIS Consulting