The initiative was to reinvent the technology behind NYCityMap to make it extendable and re-useable, so that it could accommodate the explosion of additional City agency data sets and foster the rapid development of more targeted agency applications. NYCityMap 2.0 is based on a reusable framework called Webmap. Webmap uses GeoServer, an open source, standards-compliant software server, to publish geospatial data from multiple sources, in multiple formats from within City government. In addition, WebMap utilizes GeoWebCache, a java map cache application that is used for rendering large vector data sets as image caches to improve overall performance. Lastly, the Dojo Toolkit is leveraged, which provides JavaScript tools for creating rich, interactive Web applications. Using open source software and City staff helped reduce the overall cost of the effort directly saving money on licensing costs and indirectly through increased overall efficiencies by the development and use of standards-compliant reusable software.
As a result of this effort, and in recognition that the use of a geographic interface was a useful way to view data, not only did the amount of City data and information on NYCityMap expand greatly, but also the number of agency applications built using the Webmap framework increased. For users, who know have the ability view City data in a more usable format, the benefit was greater consistency across the mapping applications developed by NYC. This is due to the fact that a common base map cache and set of tools provide a similar look and feel across all NYC agency mapping applications making it easier for the public to navigate through these applications.
For example, the Webmap framework supports the Street Conditions Observation Unit, dubbed NYC*SCOUT, which comprises inspectors in the Mayor’s Office of Operations. Citizens can click on locations in NYC*SCOUT and view reports on problems like graffiti or potholes, when the complaints were filed, which city departments will handle them, and whether the problem has been resolved. The framework also supported NYCStat Stimulus Tracker, which allows the public to view maps of where in the City federal stimulus dollars are allocated. For other agencies, DoITT built domain-specific City map implementations. For example, ZoLa (the Zoning and Land Use Application) is the Department of City Planning's web-based Geographic Information Systems application that provides the public with up-to-date zoning and related information for New York City. Similarly, in February, 2011, the City launched an interactive map allowing anybody to view ‘311’ complaints that have been filed in the last year but remain unresolved, or that have been resolved in the last five days. Users can search the site to see complaints in 15 categories, like noise and public safety, and can search the complaints by address or zip code. Most recently, working in conjunction with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Mayor’s Office of Citywide Events Management, NYCityMap has been extended so that motorists have access to street closure information and visitors and residents have more access to information about special events happening in their communities.
|