Global map layers

1
ORNL DAAC WebGIS A web based GIS system for
visualizing and distributing biogeochemical and
ecological data sets.1 Suresh K. Santhana
Vannan, Robert B. Cook, Tammy W. Beaty, Bruce E.
Wilson Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge
National Laboratory2, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
37831-6407 NASA Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems Joint
Science Workshop, Adelphi, Maryland, April 28
May 2, 2008
http//daac.ornl.gov/mapserver.shtml
WebGIS is an Internet based technology that
enables users to browse, query, and download
spatial data using a standard web browser. It is
an effective tool to disseminate different types
of geospatial data to users through a web
environment. The ORNL DAACs WebGIS system
enables users to visualize data sets relevant to
biogeochemical dynamics and create custom data
sets to meet their individual disciplinary needs.
The ORNL DAACs WebGIS is based primarily on
ESRIs ArcIMS and ArcSDE technologies. Open
Source technologies such as the Minnesota
Mapserver, and Geospatial Data Abstraction
Library (GDAL) are also incorporated. Users can
perform basic GIS operations from within a web
environment to create and download custom
regional data sets relevant to their individual
research needs. ORNL DAACs WebGIS provides user
access to a number of landcover, biophysical,
elevation, geopolitical and Open Geospatial
Consortium (OGC) layers. Region specific data
sets such as the North American Carbon Program
(NACP) data sets and global coverage data sets
are distributed through the WebGIS. The ORNL
DAACs WebGIS also provides visualization and
download of MODIS land product subsets for
selected field sites. OGC standards such as Web
Map Service (WMS) and Web Coverage Service (WCS)
are supported within the ORNL DAACs WebGIS.
Background
Tools and Features
What's coming
Global map layers Additional global data sets
such as Hydrology data (Hydrosheds), new and
updated Landcover data (Globcover), demographic
data and others will be added to the WebGIS.
Add dynamic WMS layer A new tool is in
development that will allow users to add any WMS
layer of interest into the ORNL DAACs WebGIS WMS
options for the dynamically added layer can be
set through menu driven interface. Improved WCS
Interface Currently the ORNL DAAC WebGIS offers
limited data sets for download through WCS. This
interface will be enhanced to include more data
sets and additional options for output such as
projection type, resolution, format etc. Data
Analysis Although data visualization is a
significant part of the ORNL DAAC WebGIS, tools
will be added to enable new analysis and
manipulation of data. For example, users can
select a box on the map and get a histogram plot
of land cover classes in the region selected.
Save Map Instance This new feature will provide
the capability to bookmark and save map sessions,
enabling users to easily focus on their area of
interest and to share map sessions with
colleagues.
ORNL DAAC WebGIS
Download Data Users can select a region of
interest and download raster data through an OGC
compliant Web Coverage Service (WCS) client.
Vector features can also similarly extracted
using tools from ArcIMS.
ORNL DAAC
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) archives
and distributes terrestrial biogeochemical
dynamics data collected as part of the NASA's
Earth Observing System (EOS) Program.
Menu driven interface with interactive help
Data downloaded for user in their GIS application.
Data Sets
Layer organized by groups
The ORNL DAAC WebGIS includes a number of land
cover, biophysical, elevation, and geopolitical
layers, as well as access to other relevant Open
Geospatial Consortium (OGC) layers, including
Tool sets organized by functionality
GIS Software

• Field Sites
• MODIS Validation Sites
• FLUXNET Sites
• Elevation
• Elevation (GTOPO30)
• Elevation (SRTM30)
• Land Water Layers
• MODIS Land Water Mask
• SRTM Water Bodies
• Landcover
• MODIS Landcover
• AVHRR Landcover
• FIA-Forest Type Groups
• MODIS Vegetation
• Continuous fields

• Ecoregions
• LRR (Land Resource Regions)
• Ecoregions of North America
• Bailey Ecoregions
• Mid-Continent Intensive (MCI) from the North
  American Carbon Program
• MCI Boundary
• MCI AmeriFlux Sites
• MCI Alternate Tall Towers
• MCI Planned Tall Towers
• MCI USDA FLUXNET Sites
• MCI SRTM Water Bodies
• Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) layers
• USGS National Elevation
• Microsoft Terraserver USGS
• topographic map, Digital Ortho-
• Quadrangle, Urban Areas

Query Attributes Users can select a region of
interest and obtain attribute information for
features inside the selected region.
OGC Web Map Service (WMS) WMS provides the
capability to combine data from remote sources
and serve it seamlessly as a single service.
Region of Interest
Attributes
Perform Select GIS Operations Users can draw
buffer zones, perform feature queries and feature
selections. Example below shows an 800 km buffer,
drawn around selected FLUXNET sites
Get Elevation
Print Map Layout
Related Webpage Links

WebGIS Architecture
ORNL DAAC - www.daac.ornl.gov MAST-DC -
http//nacp.ornl.gov/mast-dc/ OGC -
www.opengeospatial.org/ MapServer -
http//mapserver.gis.umn.edu/ ESRI ARCIMS -
ww.esri.com/arcims
Link to External Data
ORNL DAAC WebGIS
Filter pixel values
External map layers (from OGC WMS servers)
User
Contact Information
User Services Office Oak Ridge National
Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center
(ORNL DAAC) Telephone  1 (865)
241-3952 E-mail  ornldaac_at_ornl.gov
ESRI ArcSDE Spatial Database Engine (SDE)
Custom Data Files
Minnesota Map server
Microsoft SQL Server
ESRI ArcIMS
1This study was supported by the NASAs Earth
Observing System Data and Information System. 2
Managed by the University of Tennessee-Battelle
LLC under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the
U.S. Department of Energy