Class summary
Developing WebGIS applications using OpenLayers and MapServer.
Outline
(topics are not necessarily equal to lessons; some of them may require more than one lesson)
1.         Introduction: structure of WebGIS architectures. The role of OpenLayers and MapServer.
2.         JavaScript fundamentals (if necessary).
3.         OpenLayers basics: displaying maps on web pages; Map and Layer objects; base layers and overlays.
4.         Raster layer types and their typical usage: OSM, Google layers, WMS, Image layer.
5.         Vector layer. Types and properties of vector features. Populating vector layers. The WFS protocol.
6.         Controls: retrieving feature information using WMS or WFS. Popups.
7.         More on controls: Drawing, measurements. Geocoding using Nominatim.
8.         MapServer basics: the Mapfile; layers and classes; providing WMS and WFS services
9.         Classification using expressions, basic styling. The role and use of projections.
10.       Labels, symbols.
11.       Scale-dependent visualization. Designing concepts of multi-scale map services.
12.       Data sources: shapefiles, other GIS formats; geodatabases. Free public data sources.
Student project
Create web map application of a smaller region of special interest.

• Download OSM data.
• Add data from other sources.
• Set up WMS service with MapServer (with well-designed layer structure, styling)
• Create user interface using OpenLayers.
• Add interactive functions to the map (toggle layers, clickable features, etc.)