[Freegis-list] Naive question

[Bernhard Reiter]

> Date: Sun, 02 Jul 2000 02:46:51 +0200
> To: freegis-list at intevation.de
> From: Peter Zankl <peter at zankl.ch>
> Subject: [Freegis-list] Naive question

> Naive question first part:
> After reading the messages in this list I can see there's
> some code around. But how about the data ?
> For example: If I want to display a city-map and highlight
> some spots I'll find the code to handle the coordinates
> (i'm able to write it myself if I have to) but I won't find
> any geographical location data about streets and buildings.
> Right ?

Data is a major problem with GIS, so you identified it. 
But there is some free data around. Did you check the links from
	http://freegis.org ?

> Naive question second part:
> If I'd start writing code I'd prefer using a data format I can share with 
> others.
> Is there an XML definition around ?

Again you intuitively hit another big problem with GIS data.
Data exchange formats are a problem. There is no good standard.
And you need to do a lot of conversion. Most widely used formats are
proprietory or at least tightly controlled by GIS companies.

A lot of people had the idea to utilise XML to define new formats.

I found this nice article which talks about the advantages (I guess it
was written last year)
	http://members.home.net/houlding/XMLpaper/XML01.htm

I am not aware of widely used DTDs.
GeoVRML at least is an SGML application, but of course with a different
application.  http://www.geovrml.org/

	Bernhard
-- 
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