OpenLayers
Encyclopedia
OpenLayers is an open source
(provided under a modified BSD license) JavaScript
library for displaying map data in web browsers. It provides an API for building rich web-based geographic applications similar to Google Maps
and Bing Maps. The library includes components from the Rico JavaScript library
and the Prototype JavaScript Framework
.
OpenLayers is used by OpenStreetMap
project for its "Slippy Map" map interface.
, KML
, GML
, and GeoJSON
and map data from any source using OGC
-standards as Web Map Service
or Web Feature Service
:
after the O'Reilly Where 2.0 conference of June 29-30, 2005, and released as open-source software before the Where 2.0 conference of June 13-14, 2006, by MetaCarta Labs. MetaCarta maintains an active role in supporting and managing the project. Two other open-source mapping tools released by MetaCarta are FeatureServer and TileCache. Since November 2007 OpenLayers is an Open Source Geospatial Foundation
project.
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
(provided under a modified BSD license) JavaScript
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
library for displaying map data in web browsers. It provides an API for building rich web-based geographic applications similar to Google Maps
Google Maps
Google Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...
and Bing Maps. The library includes components from the Rico JavaScript library
Rico (Ajax)
Rico is an open source JavaScript library for developing rich Internet applications that use Ajax.Rico uses the Prototype Javascript Framework library and the JSON standard.- Features :...
and the Prototype JavaScript Framework
Prototype Javascript Framework
The Prototype JavaScript Framework is a JavaScript framework created by Sam Stephenson in February 2005 as part of the foundation for Ajax support in Ruby on Rails. It is implemented as a single file of JavaScript code, usually named prototype.js...
.
OpenLayers is used by OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap is a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world. Two major driving forces behind the establishment and growth of OSM have been restrictions on use or availability of map information across much of the world and the advent of inexpensive portable GPS devices.The...
project for its "Slippy Map" map interface.
Features
OpenLayer supports GeoRSSGeoRSS
GeoRSS is an emerging standard for encoding location as part of a Web feed. GeoRSS is an emerging standard for encoding location as part of a Web feed. GeoRSS is an emerging standard for encoding location as part of a Web feed. (Web feeds are used to describe feeds ("channels") of content, such as...
, KML
KML
KML or kml may refer to:* Kamileroi Airport , Queensland, Australia* Keyhole Markup Language, an XML geospatial data file format...
, GML
GML
GML may refer to:* Middle Low German , a language used around the North Sea and the Baltic Sea from 1100 to 1600* Gostomel Airport , an international cargo airport, near Kiev, Ukraine* Gradient Multi-Layer nano-film...
, and GeoJSON
GeoJSON
GeoJSON is an open format for encoding a variety of geographic data structures.It is so named because it is based on JSON...
and map data from any source using OGC
Open Geospatial Consortium
The Open Geospatial Consortium , an international voluntary consensus standards organization, originated in 1994. In the OGC, more than 400 commercial, governmental, nonprofit and research organizations worldwide collaborate in a consensus process encouraging development and implementation of open...
-standards as Web Map Service
Web Map Service
A Web Map Service is a standard protocol for serving georeferenced map images over the Internet that are generated by a map server using data from a GIS database...
or Web Feature Service
Web Feature Service
The Open Geospatial Consortium Web Feature Service Interface Standard provides an interface allowing requests for geographical features across the web using platform-independent calls...
:
- Software:
- UMN MapServer
- MapGuide Open SourceMapGuide Open SourceMapGuide Open Source is a web-based map-making platform that enables users to quickly develop and deploy web mapping applications and geospatial web services...
- GeoServerGeoServerIn computing, GeoServer - an open-source server written in Java - allows users to share and edit geospatial data. Designed for interoperability, it publishes data from any major spatial data source using open standards...
- ArcGIS ServerArcGIS ServerArcGIS Server is the core server geographic information system software made by Esri. ArcGIS Server is used for creating and managing GIS Web services, applications, and data...
- ka-Map
- SAAS:
- Google MapsGoogle MapsGoogle Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...
- OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap is a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world. Two major driving forces behind the establishment and growth of OSM have been restrictions on use or availability of map information across much of the world and the advent of inexpensive portable GPS devices.The...
- Virtual EarthVirtual earthVirtual earth may refer to:* Virtual ground - the node of an electrical circuit that is maintained at a steady reference potential, without being connected directly to the reference potential....
- Yahoo! MapsYahoo! MapsYahoo! Maps is a free online mapping portal provided by Yahoo!.-News:*On May 16, 2007, Yahoo! released a new map style designed by the cartography company...
- World Wind serversNASA World WindWorld Wind is an open-source virtual globe developed by NASA and the open source community for use on personal computers. Old versions need Microsoft Windows but the more recent Java version, , is cross platform and provides a suite of . The World Wind Java version was awarded in November 2009...
- Google Maps
History
OpenLayers was created by MetaCartaMetaCarta
MetaCarta is aprivate company providing geographic solutions since 2001. Their headquarters are in Cambridge, MA with additional offices located in Washington DC; Houston, TX; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; and New York, NY.-History:...
after the O'Reilly Where 2.0 conference of June 29-30, 2005, and released as open-source software before the Where 2.0 conference of June 13-14, 2006, by MetaCarta Labs. MetaCarta maintains an active role in supporting and managing the project. Two other open-source mapping tools released by MetaCarta are FeatureServer and TileCache. Since November 2007 OpenLayers is an Open Source Geospatial Foundation
Open Source Geospatial Foundation
The Open Source Geospatial Foundation , is a non-profit non-governmental organization whose mission is to support and promote the collaborative development of open geospatial technologies and data. The foundation was formed in February 2006 to provide financial, organizational and legal support to...
project.