What is WMC

Contents

• What is WMC - a map viewer for Android
  • What is WMS
  • What is TMS
• Basic feature
• Where to use WMS
• Snapshots
• Advantage for development

What is WMC - a map viewer for Android

WMC(Web Map Client) is the software which got map images from WMS(Web Map Service) or TMS(Tile Map Service) via the Internet.

WMC does not use Google API, so the devices which does not has Google API can run WMC. Therefore you can build the map viewer device freely.

WMS receives much data. Be careful with the communication fee.

What is WMS

WMS (Web Map Service) is the specification for providing geospatial images, specified by OGC.

There are several map providers with WMS.

What is TMS

TMS (Tile Map Service) is the specification for providing geospatial images, specified by The Open Source Geospatial Foundation (You can get TMS specification).

WMS can provide maps with flexible scale, but costs more CPU time. TMS costs lower CPU time and does not require special server, but cannot provide maps with flexible scale.

Basic feature

WMC's basic features are below.

GPS support

WMC can show the map around current position.

WMC also can rotate the map along device's azimuth.

Supports multiple layers

WMC can show more than one layers. WMC also can change opaque of each layer.

Without Google API

WMC does not use Google API. WMC can run on the device with only opensource softwares, maybe (We have not checked yet).

Where to use WMC

WMC can be used as multi-purpose map viewer. For example:

• If you let WMC to show the hazard map, WMC can be used for onsite disaster assessment.
• If you let WMC to show the old map and the recent map, WMC can show you onsite landuse transition.

Moreover if you let WMC to connect to the WMS, you can use for various purpose.

Visit Software download to see example applications.

Snapshots

• "Altmap Kanto" shows the old map in Meiji era and the recent map in Kanto plain, Japan.
• "Altmap Fukuyama" shows the old map in Meiji era and the recent map in Fukuyama-Shi, Hiroshima-Ken, Japan
• "LHMap Hiroshima" shows the landslip hazard map (provided by Hiroshima-Ken) and the general map.

Advantage for development

Developers must apply for terms of use of the service.

Two ways to use.

In one way, another software can wake up WMC with Intent (We calls this way "WMC application"). A WMC application only set the properties for layers and initial position. The application does not have to any geographical operations or GPS operation.

In the other way, browsers can wake up WMC only if XML document (We calls this way "WMC contents") is published and the anchor which references special URL "wmc:...".

Tile cache support

The servers which deal with raster (bitmap) data may tile cache function to save the load. WMC can fetch the map from tile cache servers and WMC can cache tile cache images, so it is expected that the loads of servers and communications (but currently not supports HTTP expired header).