Digital mapping and GIS software developer Cadcorp has announced a new and free solution for managing OS MasterMap data: the Cadcorp SIS OS MasterMap Database.
A Cadcorp SIS OS MasterMap Database is a relational database encapsulated in a single “ODB” file that can handle anything from a single OS MasterMap chunk right up to national coverage. ODB files provide an extension to the Cadcorp SIS OS MasterMap Manager and are designed to appeal to users who want to use OS MasterMap data without having to invest in database server technology and management resources. The Cadcorp SIS OS MasterMap Manager performs initial loads of OS MasterMap data directly from the Ordnance Survey-supplied data without translation and also manages change-only updates. ODB files offer the same high level of data integrity as the other existing relational database options by storing all of the data in one place.
Once loaded into an ODB file, the OS MasterMap data is accessible from the entire Cadcorp SIS software suite, including Cadcorp GeognoSIS.NET, which is certified compliant for both Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Map Service (WMS) and OGC Web Feature Service (WFS). Therefore OS MasterMap can be served to any GIS that, implements OGC WMS and WFS as clients, maximising interoperability and data sharing between and within organisations. With this additional database option, users of the Cadcorp SIS software suite are able to select from a scaleable range of databases for managing OS MasterMap data, to suit their own particular requirements and work environment. Delivered with Cadcorp SIS Map Modeller at no extra cost, Cadcorp SIS OS MasterMap Manager supports Microsoft Access 2000 MDB files, Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (including the free “SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine”), PostGIS and Oracle 9i and 10g relational databases.
For less demanding applications, Cadcorp SIS also provides the ability, as standard, to read and display native OS MasterMap data, on-the-fly, as ‘flat files’. ODB files extend these options to the small and medium-sized enterprise or local authority that doesn’t want to invest immediately in a database server or be constrained by the 2 Gb file size limits associated with Microsoft Access 2000.
