1. Overcoming Challenges Deploying
Esri-based Mobile & WebGIS
Applications
March 5th, 2012
Presenter:
James van Dyk, Latitude Geographics
© 2012 Latitude Geographics Group Ltd. All rights reserved.

2. • About Latitude Geographics
• What are some Challenges Building
ArcGIS Server Applications?
• What About HTML5?
• A Spatial Application Infrastructure
(SAI)
• Summary/Q&A
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3. • GIS software company founded in 1999
• ~65 employees in three offices (Victoria & Toronto, Canada,
and Rotterdam)
• Developers of Geocortex software
• We make customizable COTS software to help people get
more done with Esri server technology
• Razor sharp focus on Esri ArcGIS Server webGIS technology
• 600+ clients worldwide
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4. ArcGIS Server application
development is more complex
than in the ArcIMS days . . .
• Many ways to build web mapping
applications:
– Esri offers
Javascript/Flex/Silverlight/
WebADF/ArcGIS Online
• A proliferation of devices and
platforms
– Desktop/iOS/Android/Windows
Phone/Blackberry
– Which platform is best? And how
best to deploy to each?
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5. • Rapid technology changes
make it hard to keep up
– Sept./11: Microsoft
announces Windows 8
‘Metro’ browsers will
not support plug-ins
– Nov./11: Adobe
announces plans to
discontinue Flash Player
support for browsers in
mobile devices
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6. • Flash and Silverlight aren’t supported on all platforms
• Some users will have to download the plug-in first
Flex Silverlight JS/HTML
iOS
Android
Win. Phone
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7. • There is huge interest in the potential of HTML5 to
overcome some of these webGIS challenges . . . .
Why?
• Unlike proprietary plug-ins, HTML5 is an open standard . . .
and everyone is free to implement this standard
– Potential to remove cross-platform compatibility issues
• Most people speculate HTML5 will speed up the death of
Flex & Silverlight
• There are useful HTML5 features for web mapping
– Offline data storage (map data)
– Geolocation features
– . . .and more
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8. What are the drawbacks today?
• HTML5 is officially not scheduled to be
complete until 2022!
. . . but no one expects that to be the
case.
• Development tools are immature compared
to Flex & Silverlight
• Esri doesn’t offer an HTML5 API . . .and
may never
• Browser support for HTML5 varies
dramatically
– Test your browser at:
http://html5test.com
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10. Browser Usage on Latitudegeo.com Browser Support for HTML5 Features
3% 1%
%
7% 100
39% 80
22% 60
40
20
0
28%
+ Browser Popularity -
Internet Explorer
Firefox
Chrome
http://caniuse.com
Safari Accessed 30.12.2011
iPhone / iPad (Safari)
Android Browser
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11. • HTML5 should be viewed as a ‘living standard’
• Not if, but when.
– Not too early, and not too late … not all at once
• There will be significant trade-offs with an HTML5-only
strategy today
• Think Silverlight/Flex and HTML5
– Expect a mixed world for some time . . . .
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12. 1. Write/maintain platform specific apps:
a) Javascript/Flex/Silverlight for a Windows platform
b) iOS (Objective C)
c) Android (Java)
d) Windows Phone 7 (Microsoft .NET)
OR
2. Use a Spatial Application Infrastructure (SAI) and write
web apps deployed through a browser
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13. A Spatial Application Infrastructure (SAI) uses an enterprise
design to build multiple, standardized mapping applications. It
reduces the tension of building targeted apps to each group of GIS
users, and the resources required to maintain those applications.
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14. Map Services
Database Connections
Custom Tools
Viewer Security Custom
Application Code
Integration
Reports
Search
Workflows
ArcGIS
Server
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15. SAI represents a webGIS platform, not just ‘one-off’ viewers!
Traditional Approach SAI
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16. Custom
Code
Silverlight Web App Flex Web App HTML Mobile App iPad Mobile App
Map Services Integration
Database Connections Reports
Custom Tools Search Platform
Shared
Code
Security Workflows
SAI Software Platform
ArcGIS Server
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17. • Applications are technology
agnostic/neutral (as much as
possible)
• Centralized management of
applications
• Minimize custom code
• Instead of putting business
logic into each individual
application, centralize the
business logic so it can be
shared and reused by other
applications
• Build targeted (or "task-driven”
applications), instead of an
overwhelming selection of
features and tools
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18. • There are more challenges today building
webGIS applications than just a few years ago . .
• HTML5 is a buzz word with plenty of hype . .
.and a solution that promises to eliminate some
development challenges
– Not a matter of if, but when.
• Think Silverlight/Flex and HTML5
– Plan a strategy for managing multiple
technologies
• Use an SAI approach to build standardized
applications through a common platform
– Endeavour to minimize the amount of custom
code for a particular client technology
• Don’t wait . . . starting building today!
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19. Learn more about HTML5 at:
www.geocortex.com/HTML5
Learn how to get started now with HTML5 at the following
webinar:
Getting Rolling in 2012 with HTML5 & Esri Technology
Thursday March 8, 2012 | 10:00 AM (PST)
Register at www.geocortex.com/HTML5
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20. Thank You
Contact Information
James van Dyk
jvandyk@latitudegeo.com
www.geocortex.com | 888.578.5545
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© 2012 Latitude Geographics Group Ltd. All rights reserved.

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