Geospatial - GISFirst impression

Supermap - robust comprehensive 2D and 3D GIS solution

Supermap GIS is a long-standing GIS service provider with a track record since its inception in a wide range of solutions in the geospatial context. It was established in 1997, by a group of experts and researchers with the support of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, its base of operations is located in Beijing-China, and it can be said that its growth has been progressive in Asia, but Since 2015 it has had an interesting stage of expansion thanks to its innovation in multiplatform GIS technology, GIS in the cloud, next-generation 3D GIS, and client GIS.

At their booth at FIG week in Hanoi, we had time to talk about various things this software does, unknown to much of the western context. After several interactions, I decided to write an article about what struck me the most about Supermap GIS.

SuperMap GIS, is composed of a series of key technologies -platforms- which includes geospatial data processing and management tools. Since 2017, users have been able to enjoy its update, Supermap GIS 8C, however, this 2019 SuperMap 9D was released to the public, which is composed of four technology systems: GIS in the cloud, integrated multiplatform GIS, 3D GIS and BigData CHALK.

To better understand why it is considered an integral solution, you must know how your products are composed, that is, what each of them offers.

Multiplatform GIS

The multiplatform GIS, constitutes it: the iDesktop, the GIS Component, and GIS Mobile. The first of the aforementioned iDesktop, is developed based on plug-ins -accessories-, it is compatible with various CPUs, such as ARM, IBM Power or x86, and works efficiently in any operating environment that has been installed, whether Windows, Linux and integrates 2D and 3D functionalities.

Any type of user, individual, business or government, can use this desktop application, as it is very easy to use and is designed in the style of Microsoft Office applications. In this application, there are all the tools that can commonly be seen in any desktop GIS for data loading and display, entity construction, or analysis processes, to which is added access to web map services, promoting collaboration between users. Among its operational characteristics, the following stand out: the management and visualization of photogrammetric images, BIM, and point clouds.

In the case of GISMobile, it can work in iOS or Android environments, and they can be used offline for both 2D and 3D data. The applications that Supermap Mobile offers (SuperMap Flex Mobile and Supermap iMobile), include field surveys, precise agriculture, intelligent transport or inspection of facilities, some of these can be customizable by the user.

GIS in the cloud

One of the inevitable and irreversible trends for geospatial data management. It is a platform connected to multiple GIS terminals so that the user / customer can build products in an efficient and stable way. It is made up of the SuperMap iServer, SuperMap iManager and SuperMap iPortal, which are detailed below.

  • iServer SuperMap: which is a high performance platform, with which you can perform activities such as administration and grouping of the 2D and 3D services, as well as providing the resources to develop extensions. With the iServer SuperMap, you can access services of data catalogs, real-time data visualization or construction of Big Data applications.
  • SuperMap iPortal: integrated portal for the administration of shared GIS resources - search and upload-, service registration, multi-source access control, technology addition for the creation of web maps.
  • Supermap iExpress: It is built to improve the user's access experiences to the terminals, through proxy services and cache acceleration technologies. With iExpress it is possible to build a low cost, multi-platform WebGIS application system. In addition, it allows the rapid publication of products, such as 2D and 3D mosaics.
  • SuperMap iManager: used for the management and maintenance of services, applications and large volumes of data. It supports the Docker solution - container technology - to achieve the efficient establishment of GIS in the cloud, and the creation of Big Data, this allows high performance and low consumption of resources. It adapts to multiple platforms in the cloud, and generates enriched monitoring indicators.
  • SuperMap iDataInsight: allows the access of geospatial data, from the computer - local - and on the web, ensures that the user can have a dynamic visualization of the data, for its later extraction. It has the support for loading data in spreadsheets, web services in the cloud, rich graphics.
  • SuperMap Online: This product does something that is convenient for many, renting and hosting GIS data online. SuperMap Online provides the user with a GIS hosting in the cloud so that they can build public GIS servers, where they can host, build and share spatial data. SuperMap Online, is similar to what ArcGIS Online offers, functionalities converge there such as: analysis processes (buffers, interpolations, information extraction, coordinate conversion or route calculation and navigation), 3D data loading, publication and ways of sharing online data, variety of SDKs for clients, access to thematic data.

GIS 3D

SuperMap products have integrated 2D and 3D data management, with its functionalities and tools it is possible: BIM modeling, management of oblique photogrammetric data, modeling of data from laser scanners (point clouds), use of vector elements or 2D raster to which height and texture data is added to create 3D objects.

SuperMap, has made efforts to standardize 3D data, with this it is possible to unify and add technologies such as: virtual reality (VR), WebGL, augmented reality (AR), and 3D printing. Supports vector data (point, polygon, line) as well as text entities (CAD annotations), directly reads REVIT and Bentley data, digital elevation models, and GRID data; with which you can generate data for the construction of textured meshes, operations with voxel rasters, supports for dimensionality calculations or adding effects to objects.

Some of the applications in the 3D SuperMap environment are:

  • Application of planning simulations: builds a planning scheme through the realization of a dynamic filtering of heights and natural lighting of the elements of real space.
  • Spatial planning design: according to the area and characteristics of the 3D model, the system constructs elements such as roads.
  • 3D consultation: there is the possibility of monitoring natural resources and real estate, to determine their location and generate protection plans.

BIG DATA GIS

Through SuperMap technologies, visualization, storage, data processing, spatial analysis and data transmission processes can be carried out in real time, this being an innovation in the field of GIS + Big Data.It provides the SuperMap iObjects for Spark, a GIS component development platform, which provides the user with the necessary GIS capabilities for handling Big Data. On the other hand, it can be mentioned that it provides high-performance dynamic representation technology through support for map style modifications, updates and real-time representations, open source libraries and spatial big data visualization technologies are also offered. (scatter diagrams, thermograms, grid maps, or trajectory maps.

The aforementioned functionalities are used to improve understanding of the environment, which translates into development and decision-making on topics such as: Smart City, Public Services, Urban Management and Natural Resources. The case studies were visualized, where they used the use of SuperMap and its technologies, among which can be mentioned: The urban management system of the Chogwen District - Beijing, The geographic spatial framework of the cloud-based digital city , Japan Disaster Geoportal, Information System for Japan Large-Scale Railway Facilities Based on SuperMap, and Drought Prediction Platform.

If we take one of the above, for example: Information system for large-scale railway facilities in Japan based on SuperMap, it has to be specified that SuperMap Gis, manages all railway facilities in Japan, so the data volume is very extensive and heavy, in addition to requiring a platform that meets the expected quality and connectivity requirements.

SuperMap implemented an Internet and Intranet service, plus a data management model with SuperMap Objects, with which spatial information queries, statistical updating, spatial updating (placement of labels and features), copying of maps, analysis of buffers, design and printing; all this through a specific information viewer - built in SuperMap-, only for the data generated by this company, with which the expectations of the JR East Japan group that manages the railway system were met.

It is interesting of this solution, the ease of its use, a complete and varied product line, the integration of its products, the stable execution of its functionalities and well taken advantage of it can be a good alternative for companies focused on results. The products they offer are not only destined for geographers or geomatics, but they have also been taken to governmental and business instances, who, through the use of it, can make decisions adjusted to the spatial realities.

https://www.supermap.com/

http://supermap.jp/

Golgi Alvarez

Writer, researcher, specialist in Land Management Models. He has participated in the conceptualization and implementation of models such as: National Property Administration System SINAP in Honduras, Management Model of Joint Municipalities in Honduras, Integrated Cadastre-Registry Management Model in Nicaragua, Territory Administration System SAT in Colombia . Editor of the Geofumadas knowledge blog since 2007 and creator of the AulaGEO Academy that includes more than 100 courses on GIS - CAD - BIM - Digital Twins topics.

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