ESRI’s ArcIMS

vs.
Intergraph’s
GeoMedia WebMap
for GIS over the web
Contributors:
 James Janning
 Michael Wallace
 Justin Johnson
 Introduction
Web-based GIS applications are a means to
distribute geographic data to end users
without GIS software
End users, because of these web-based
products can view this data using their
existing web browser
The two products examined here are ESRI’s
ArcIMS and Intergraph’s GeoMedia WebMap
Web-based GIS
application basics:
Must incorporate clients, middleware, web GIS
software, data, and servers
Basic procedure:
 Client sends request for map via web browser
 Request goes to application on server called middleware,
which interprets the request for the web-based GIS software
 The web-based GIS software (also on the server) then
processes the request by querying its spatial database(s) for
the appropriate spatial entity/attribute data necessary for
the requested map
 The GIS software then sends the map data back to the
middleware application for reinterpretation
 Middleware application then sends completed map image to
the client’s internet browser for viewing
Web-based GIS application
requirements/responsibilities

Send & receive appropriate data

Organize multiple requests
Maximize processing efficiency
Determine output format
Provide usable templates
ESRI’s ArcIMS:
Can serve data in two different formats, raster and
vector
Raster:
 Distributed in JPG, PNG, or GIF format

 Requires no additional client software

Vector:
 Requires a Java plug-in on the client side

 The plug in is downloaded and installed

automatically
 Vector streaming technology provided through the
use of ArcXML
ArcIMS (continued)
Advantages:
 Out-of-the-box usability
 Capability of administering server software from a remote
location
 Can share data with other ESRI GIS software, including data
from the ArcIMS website
 Can be loaded on a UNIX platform
 ArcIMS has had a web-based product since 1990
Disadvantages:
 Inability to use non-ESRI data sources without conversion
 Dependence on non-ESRI software products for use as
middleware
Intergraph’s
GeoMedia WebMap:
Can serve data in two formats, raster and vector
Raster:
 Distributed in JPG, PNG, or GIF format
 Requires no additional client software
Vector:
 Distributed in ActiveCGM (computer graphics metafile)
format
 Requires ActiveCGM plug-in on the client-side
 Plug-in must be installed by the user
 Plug-in is limited to a Windows OS platform and must use
Internet Explorer or Netscape
WebMap (continued)
Advantages:
 Open GIS solution that uses no proprietary
languages or data formats
Disadvantages:
 CGM plug-in is a major component of WebMap,

however, Intergraph does not own it

 CGM plug-in must be downloaded by client, which

may require instruction and may cause problems

 CGM plug-in only works on Windows platforms

 Custom applications are difficult, time consuming,

and therefore expensive to write

 Cost
Comparison
ESRI’s ArcIMS
 First CPU is $7,500
 Additional CPUs are $5,000 each
Intergraph’s GeoMedia WebMap
 $10,000 for two CPUs
Intergraph’s GeoMedia WebEnterprise
 $24,000 for two CPUs
Keep in mind
 Any customizing of these products will require many
programming hours, which can become very costly and
needs to be recognized as a legitimate expense, and ArcIMS
is the only one of the two that can be used out-of-the-box
 Product Summary
Pricing
ArcIMS WebMap
$7,500 for 1 CPU, $5,000 to add CPU $10,000 for 2CPUs
Server Requirements
ArcIMS WebMap
MS Windows NT/2000/XP, UNIX, AIX MS Windows NT/2000/XP
Microsoft IIS or Apache Microsoft IIS
Vector Data Output
ArcIMS WebMap
Not limited to a specific platform Limited to MS Windows platform
Requires internet browser to be ActiveCGM must be downloaded and
compatible with ArcXML installed on the client system
Data Input
ArcIMS WebMap
ESRI data only Most data types regardless of format
Arial photographs, satellite imagery Arial photographs, satellite imagery
 Concluding Remarks
Intergraph’s GeoMedia WebMap is more
flexible from a data usage standpoint,
therefore, if multiple data types will be
utilized, WebMap is a reasonable choice
ESRI’s ArcIMS is more flexible from the server
setup standpoint
Bear in mind that although on the surface,
both products appear to cost about the same,
the ultimate cost is relative to product of
man/hours for setup and functionality/benefit
of the final product