-------- Original Message --------
Subject: FW: New National Library of Scotland map sheet viewer
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:05:22 +0100
From: Francis Herbert <[log in to unmask]>
To: 'Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship'
<[log in to unmask]>


Those interested in open source graphic index applications - or in
viewing historic map series of Scotland - may be interested in the new
Sheet Viewer (http://geo.nls.uk/search/) on the National Library of
Scotland maps website.

The Viewer allows a choice of historic and modern mapping layers as a
backdrop to selecting map sheets of interest. The mapping layers can be
located using a gazetteer or UK National Grid Reference search, as well
as by browseable gazetteers of historic counties and their parishes. The
application displays Ordnance Survey coordinates, the National Grid
Reference as well as WGS84 coordinates for actual position of the mouse
cursor. Our backdrop maps are compatible with Google Maps. The
application automatically generates a link for the displayed position on
the map.

Only open-source projects are utilized: OpenLayers
(http://openlayers.org/) software for the visualization in a web
browser, GeoServer (http://geoserver.org/) as the backend which serves
the map series shapefiles, and MapTiler (http://www.maptiler.org/) to
render the raster map tiles for large mosaics. This new search interface
replaces our previous five separate ArcIMS search applications and
integrate them into a faster and clearer interface, without annual
license fees. Our Help page (http://geo.nls.uk/search/help.html)
provides information on the map series included, and further guidance on
using the application.

We have also made available a related Mosaic Viewer
(http://geo.nls.uk/search/mosaic/) and OS National Grid record viewer
(http://geo.nls.uk/search/national-grid/).

The application was developed by Klokan Technologies
(http://www.klokantech.com/), who offer customization, integration and
support for open-source mapping and software.

Chris Fleet and Petr Pridal

Chris Fleet
National Library of Scotland
159 Causewayside
EDINBURGH,,EH9 1PH
United Kingdom.

Petr Pridal
Klokan Technologies GmbH
Bahnhofstrasse 9
6340 Baar, Switzerland.

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Visit the National Library of Scotland online at www.nls.uk
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