City of Santa Cruz Embraces AGS/Flex

Rich Westfall, GIS Coordinator

GIS Web Implementation Specific City Business Need Identified

• Goals Developed• Map Choice Made

Zoning Viewer

Our Goals

Create mapping website that’s:• Simple to use/Intuitive• Meaningful• Targeted audience

don’t compete with Google Maps

• Attractive

Staff Strategy

GIS Coordinator – • Handle graphics, Flex (web application) development,

coordination of all technical aspects, cartography (map authoring), ArcGIS Server (services/caching/tweaking)

Planning Staff – • Identify data to serve, oversight of cartography and tools.

IT Network Administrator – • Handle proxy architecture in DMZ

Development Process 6 months from Idea to Live

• Flex Builder • Development system architecture set up• ArcGIS Server set up• MXD’s developed

Lots of Feed back• Testing

Systems Performance Aesthetics Versions

• Alpha – Internal to IT• Beta 1 – Internal to select city staff• Beta 2 – External to select group in user community• Release 1 – General Public Release

• Maintain Project Goals

Architectural Schematic

Santa Cruz City GISSCUSI System Architecture

Bringing the Pieces Together

SCUSI

Santa Cruz Urban Services Information

SCUSI Map Original Scope

• Request: Public to view city zoning by property• Business Need: Reduce public phone calls to Planning staff requesting the zoning by property• GIS Needed

• parcels, zoning, addresses find & property ID To Reach a Bigger Audience

• Added More City GIS Data & County Assessor Data Tie to Santa Cruz County Assessor Data Sensitive Habitat/Sensitive Species General Plan Designations and Planning Areas Flood zones Historic/Archeological data Aerial Imagery 2007 3in Color

• Development of and/or use of: Transparency slider bar for aerials X/Y coordinate display Measurement tools Google Street View Bing Birds Eye Census Tools Zillow.com

What is CCJDC GIS Up To? Who currently owns ArcGIS Server (AGS)?

• Actively using ArcGIS services? Have you used Adobe Flash? Of course you have! How many ArcIMS users? How many .NET Web ADF users? Are you looking to get an ArcGIS server based web

map up and running soon?

ArcGIS Server and Flex:Here’s the Scoop

What is Flex Adobe development platform based on Adobe Flash Player

client• End users require web browser and Adobe Flash Player (most

computers have Flash installed) Flex Builder IDE

• IDE based on Eclipse Java IDE• Actionscript - JavaScript based scripting language• MXML – Proprietary XML based user interface markup language

Similar technologies• Microsoft Silverlight

Why Flex

Web 2.0 – “software-applications entirely through a browser”

Relatively straight forward development process Easy to deploy applications Well integrated with ArcGIS Server Other alternatives (ArcIMS, Web ADF, MS

Silverlight)

Flex and ArcGIS Server

Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)• Must have ArcGIS Server Running and exposing services• All transactions between the Flash Player Client and AGS

(ArcGIS Server) happen via REST based service endpoints exposed by the server

• Example REST service endpoint (map service) http://gis.cityofsantacruz.com/ArcGIS/rest/

services/Planning/MapServer• Flash is a client platform. Only requests to AGS leave the client.

There is no server component to Flash/Flex Platform

Steps to get Going

Install ArcGIS Server, create map services Download Adobe Flex Builder

• http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/entitlement/index.cfm?e=flex3email Free for 60 days ($250+/- to buy)

Download AGS API for Flex library• http://resources.esri.com/arcgisserver/apis/flex/index.cfm?

fa=downloadDisclaimer Free

Add AGS Flex API library (.swc file) to project Create application

Tips and Tricks

Read the ArcGIS API for Flex Overview• http://help.arcgis.com/en/webapi/flex/index.html

Utilize ESRI Samples• http://help.arcgis.com/en/webapi/flex/samples/index.html• http://help.arcgis.com/en/webapi/flex/gallery.html

Learn “Flex in a Week”• http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/videotraining/

Build components instead of building single file monster

SCUSI Demo

Did We Accomplish Our Goals? Goals Checklist

• Provide requested property information to Santa Cruz resident

• Show map and aerial views• Provide selected 3rd party services

Google Street View Bing’s Birds Eye Zillow

• Fast• Attractive• Intuitive

Things to Consider Application:

• Meet your business need• Don’t try to be everything for everyone in one application

Flex can be simple or complex depending on:• How big your application gets• How many customized controls you need to create (moveable, closable

panels) Maps and map services

• Put in the time and attention into the details Symbology, labeling, caching, etc…

Setup a well oiled deployment mechanism.• Local development PC testing• Internal testing server• Public production server

Impressions Favorable Customer Feedback - yes High productivity – yes (Water Infrastructure Map in a week)

Rich toolset to work with - yes

Recommendations If you have ArcGIS Server, some

programming skills and a web presence, then Flex may be for you.

Questions