KML Connector for ArcIMS
The publicity around Google Earth and World Wind has generated a lot of interest in spatial data. It is significant that a lot of that interest is coming from the managerial ranks. I know of several cases where management are asking if existing spatial data assets can be displayed in Google Earth.
Yesterday (paraphrased): “Is it possible to get XYZ data displayed in Google Earth? If so, what is involved and how long will it take?”
Using the free version of Google Earth I set up a simple proof of concept. It used a single map image as a static overlay. There was a slight projection mismatch, and if you zoomed in the overlay image got all chunky and pixelated. However, it was good enough for a quick demo.
During my afternoon commute I got to thinking: ArcXML is XML, KML is XML (such perception!). Hmm…maybe that XSL stuff might actually be able to transform one to the other. I had some sample ArcXML data on my notebook. Work commenced, and by journey’s end I had an XSL stylesheet that converted an ArcXML IMAGE response into KML, and a bullet point functional specification on what the application needed to do.
Some hacking during the morning commute, and a bit of testing at the client site, resulted in a working baby “KML Connector” servlet for ArcIMS 9. It can only expose one ArcIMS Image Service as KML so there is a lot of core functionality missing. I haven’t even begun to think about producing KML vectors. Still, not bad for about 150 lines of Java code and comments, and a small XSL stylesheet.
The next step is to make it a bit more flexible and to limit the extent to which it will respond with a map image. No point generating a map image if I’m viewing the opposite side of the planet. After that, I’ll see if I can find the time to add some new features.
Aside: ESRI have announced that they are working on supporting Google Earth as a client.
Update, 2006-05-12: A new version of the KML Adapter software is now available as open source.
You can do it in about 10 lines if you really wanted to. Although XSLT is fine, its a lot more work for the same effect :)
my 2c.
Chris Tweedie — 11 August 2005, 09:17
Yep, it is a lot easier to use a simple "reflector" script and the WMS Connector for ArcIMS. The reasons that I chose to do it the hard way were: 1) A client who doesn't use the WMS Connector needed a proof of concept, and 2) I wanted to investigate how ArcXML can be used (including reprojection on-the-fly). I am also interested in seeing what can be done with ArcIMS Feature Services, so this was a toe in the water.
There may be a method in my madness...somewhere.
Andrew
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