Hartley Wintney, UK: Getmapping launched a WFS service to stream Ordnance Survey (OS) MasterMap, over the Internet. A WFS feed of MasterMap will reduce network overhead and the need to manage and update this very large, complex and constantly changing dataset.
WFS is a standard protocol from the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) for streaming georeferenced vector mapping data over the Internet to web based applications, GIS and CAD software. A WFS map feed enables users to interrogate, update and create map features whereas WMS feeds used by online mapping portals such as Google Maps only display an image, which users cannot edit or analyse. The new Getmapping WFS service is aimed at organisations which are already heavy users of MasterMap, such as government departments, local authorities and utilities. WFS feeds offer several distinct advantages over traditional methods of delivery i.e. compressed media files.
“We have had great success with our WMS feeds of OS Mapping and our own aerial photography, the WFS service for a key mapping dataset like MasterMap was the next logical step,” said Tristram Cary, Managing Director of Getmapping. Source: Getmapping
