Kosmosnimki.Ru resource enables to handle three co

25 March 2010, 4:51pm

2010-03-25 - The popular Kosmosnimki.Ru resource introduces the “hybrid” view option – map layers over satellite-based image. Now Kosmosnimki.ru enables to handle three view modes: “Map”, “Images” and “Hybrid”. The map overlay is prepared based on the World Map and the Map of Russia data. An open tool “Mapnik” was used for rendering (drawing in form of raster images).

On the one hand, transparent overlay with map outlines and names, displayed over the satellite-based image, is nothing new. On the other, it is a labor-intensive and creative task to build it, compared to preparation of a map coverage for publishing.

— A difficult part in creating a hybrid was to select the data to be displayed. That means a hybrid cannot display all the number of elements available on a map. For example, the hybrid does not have the polygonal hydrography, however river margins are visible. In addition, the hybrid color scheme was selected so that it would rather complement the imagery data than be in conflict with it, - said the ScanEx Geoinformation and Web-Technology Department specialist Marina Voronina.

Currently the satellite base map of the Kosmosnimki.Ru resource is prepared based on the IRS images of 5.8 m resolution and covers basically of the territory of the European part of Russia, as well as the Urals Region. Besides, highly-detailed IKONOS mosaics are available at this portal covering the territory of over 50 towns of Russia and Ukraine.

More information about modern web-technology in GIS, web-mapping standards and differences in web-mapping APIs are available in Kosmosnimki.Ru project blog, as well as in the “Earth from Space – the Most Effective Solutions” magazine (soft copies of the magazine issues are available at the link below.

“Earth from Space – the Most Effective Solutions”

Geo: International