.. _`NuMaps`: http://www.numaps.com.au/

.. _numaps_study:

NuMaps
======

`NuMaps`_ is an Australian based startup company that publishes Australian
Bureau Statistics (ABS) Census data as DemographicDrapes(TM) which are simply
semi-transparent thematic map overlays. These are provided as WMS services for
those who have OGC enabled GIS products/spatial applications.  NuMaps initially
considered using the Google Maps API but preferred to use OpenLayers as it
supported access to any number of different base map suppliers and it provided
a robust interface to OGC published services. 

.. image:: _static/numaps_interface.jpg
   :align: right

One of the key components of the decision to use OpenLayers was the support for
OGC enabled web services. OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium) compatibility was
and remains strategically important. OGC compatibility allows NuMaps to support
the widest range of end user client applications now and moving forward into
the future. OpenLayers support of OGC web services helped make the library
a natural choice as a basis for the application.

In addition to using OGC data sources along with Google Maps base layers, as a
Google Ads partner NuMaps can also seamlessly integrate with other free Google
services, such as geocoding and Google Charts, from within an Openlayers
application. This ability to use and combine multiple services is one of the
key strengths of using OpenLayers as a web mapping framework. 

NuMaps uses a CubeWerx WMS backend. CubeWerx is the most OGC compliant Server
environment on the market. The combination of CubeWerx backend and Openlayers
as a preferred applications envionment allowed NuMaps to achieve the
interoperability that was sought, along with the scalability to support an
increasing client base. Using technology like Styled Layer Descriptors (SLD),
NuMaps can communicate styling information to the CubeWerx WMS server on the 
fly. NuMaps' use of SLD, which describes rules and filters for styling data, 
allows subscribed Internet users to modify external DempographicDrape Filters
[SLDs], creating custom map themes and styles to suit the need of their
applications, in addition to using the  many standard pre-configured
DemographicDrapes already available.

.. image:: _static/numaps_styler.jpg
   :align: left 

Beyond the DemographicDrapes provided to subscribers, certain
DemographicDrapes are provided free of charge via an Openlayers online viewer
application. The intended users of this service range between those interested
in simple demographic browsing on top of a Google Maps base map to serious
demographers who need to access DemographicDrapes as component layers in their
overall geo-demographic analysis processes.

Armed with the tools provided by OpenLayers and CubeWerx, NuMaps is also
in the business of providing specific Openlayers applications that access
the DemographicDrapes hosted by NuMaps. With the help of many different
DemographicDrape layers, an application was developed to assist a Government
Agency to determine where they should place health services for indigenous
people. This application supported the interactive aggregation of polygon-based
statistics. OpenLayers allowed NuMaps to develop custom controls to
create easy to follow workflows. These custom controls allowed a custom built
application to fulfill the rich needs of the user, while maintaing a simplicity
of the user interface not typically seen in more complex geoprocessing tools.

NuMaps is an avid user of OpenLayers, and looks forward to continuing to use 
OpenLayers as time goes on.

.. _`Brad Spencer`: brad@numaps.com.au

For more information contact:

|  `Brad Spencer`_
|  NuMaps
|  Australia