Session 39 - Web Mapping 2

OpenLayers 101: develop a web application
Nicole Helgeson, WSB

OpenLayers is an open source map library that provides a huge number of mapping tools, making it easy to design and customize web applications. This presentation will introduce features offered by OpenLayers and demonstrate how to use this web map API to create dynamic applications that can mash up data from many sources.


Two Mixed Bags: Web Mapping Projects and Their Developers
Peter Wiringa, U-Spatial, University of Minnesota

Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), no-code web mapping solutions (e.g., Esri web maps, templates, and Web AppBuilder; Google Maps, CARTO, etc.) meet many needs, but what happens when you can't meet requirements using one of these solutions? Now, you're a web developer.

With a growing staff and regular turnover of our graduate research assistants, who often join us with no web development experience, U-Spatial (pop. ~15) needed an approach that supports staff who are entirely new to web development, ensures some degree of consistency both within and across projects, enables cleaner collaboration, doesn't hinder more advanced projects, requires little effort to maintain, and isn't onerous. And, no one in our group is a most-of-the-time web developer, let alone a full-time one. Did we make it? Over a year since we began, this talk will describe our current approach, including the technologies and tools we use, how we got there, and where we're going.


Using Spatial technology to deliver actionable COVID information
Blaine Hackett, Bill Mitchell, Elorm Agbolosoo

In times of catastrophe, having tools that deliver actionable information are critical to addressing the challenges at hand. Whether it is a natural disaster, accident or catastrophic health issue such as the current pandemic, professionals and the general public are empowered when this information is readily available. In late 2020 and early 2021, MnGeo was tapped to help with three COVID applications:

COVID for Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) – Using MnGeo geocoding service to email encrypted information to PSAPs
COVID Testing and Vaccine Site webpage – Public facing webpage where users can search for a test or vaccine site (Vaccine Finder)
COVID Vaccine focus communities, gap and capacity mapping – Using GIS mapping and analysis tools to ensure focus communities have equal access to vaccinations
Attend this session to learn more about these projects, the technical challenges we encountered and how they were overcome!