Web-based map authoring with ArcGIS Server?

Question

I'm embarking on a project in which users will author, save, and share their own maps over the web. We will provide them with a large number of feature classes, but users will effectively author their own maps, map symbologies, etc. Furthermore, they will create and edit their own feature classes, which they can both map and share with other users.

The model for AGS map services seems to be: author a map in ArcMap, save an MXD/MSD, publish. I'm struggling to understand how this can help us build a dynamic web mapping platform as described above. Can anyone offer some tips on how to go about it?

Answer 1

Using one of ESRI's SDK's, you can retrieve a list of available maps from the ArcGIS Server. You could then provide a drop down of the available MXD/MSDs and allow the user to select what dynamic map they would like back.

Answer 2

I've used a lot of the following open source technologies to actually host the map and edit them. I've used these technologies with shape files, and not directly with ArcGIS; So I'm sorry if it doesn't really meet your requirements a 100%.

• Openlayers - IRC #openlayers
• GeoServer - irc #geoserver - Compatible with ArcSDE
• FeatureServer irc #featureserver
• MapServer
• MapFish

To make your maps even prettier, and add more functionality, then GeoEXT is your friend. For data manipulation, Geoserver offers a lot of it, but if you want extra, check out gdal/ogr

I'm sure that I am missing many others, but you could start there.

Answer 3

Hi I am a bit late with my answer but I started on ArcGIS Server as well half a year ago. It is true that you create your BasicMaps yourself in ArcMap and than publish them as a webservice which in turn can be displayed in a web application. And that is the point, you have to create a strong web application that uses AGS Javascript API + Dojo + php + mysql + XXX in order to allow all the features that would make a "create-yoour-own-map" possible.

What I tried to say was that you should prepare for a lot more work than only relying on ArcGIS server alone.

Answer 4

If you want all of the features you describe then in the ESRI world you would have to give each user access to ArcGIS Desktop. Some of what you ask for is possible. If you want to allow users to select their own layer then all you would need to do is create some sort of admin page that lists all of your map services from which users could select the layers they want. If you are using the JS API this will then be a simple matter of retrieving a users saved data from some sort of store and then only requesting those layers.

In terms of editing and changing the actual map service this is a not really possible, and even it if were I think you would kill performance.