Internet Mapping with Geoserver, Postgres, a…

Do you want to learn how to build an Internet Map Server application using free and open source GIS? Do you want that server to display raster, vector and attribute information and perform spatial analysis and database queries over the Internet? Do you want to learn how to connect your map server to Postgres and PostGIS. If so, this course is for you. I will walk you step-by-step through the process of installing Geoserver, loading data, creating server side analytical processes, and finally show you how to render the data on the client side using Openlayers 3.0. Don't be afraid - this is a painless step-by-step approach that anyone can learn with my course.

When you are done with this course, you'll have the basics down. Now it's up to you to create impressive Internet mapping sites.

What's inside

Learning objectives

You will learn how to install geoserver,
Load gis data into geoserver
Serve vector, raster, and attribute data on the internet with geoserver

Serve data stored in postgres and postgis on the internet
Create a client based browser application using openlayers 3.0
Create an application that allows client and server interaction with gis data.

You will learn how to install geoserver,
Load gis data into geoserver
Serve vector, raster, and attribute data on the internet with geoserver
Serve data stored in postgres and postgis on the internet
Create a client based browser application using openlayers 3.0
Create an application that allows client and server interaction with gis data.

Syllabus

Students will learn how to download Geoserver and install it on their computer

Introduction

Getting Started with Installation and the Geoserver Interface

This is a quick lecture to assist you in installing Geoserver. Most people can figure it out on their own, but I wanted to give you at least some hand-holding along the way.

This is a continuation of the previous lecture. The screen recording device does not work when an installation script is running, so I made a series of screen shots for you to follow along with.

Geoserver does a lot of things. In this lecture you'll learn some of the key components to the interface such as logging in, viewing layers, styles, and workspaces. We'll also learn where Geoserver stores all this information on the hard drive.

In this section you will bring in your own data to work with Geoserver. We'll start with shapefiles, as they are pretty easy to work with. But, we'll eventually make our way over to using data from Postgres.

Don't forget to download the shapefile data.

We are now going to get pretty sophisticated, and begin serving data out of Postgres. This is the stuff the high paid consultants all do - but don't worry, it's not that hard. I'm going to show you how to do it.

Don't forget to download the Postgres backup file - that way you can work alongside me.

In this lecture, you will learn how to create a parameterized SQL view so that you can display information as a result of a query.

This lecture is short and sweet. We'll simply bring in an Open Street Map Layer and put it in a map frame. Under 30 lines of code, but it forms the basis of what we need to start building more sophisticated maps.

In this lecture you are going to learn how to bring in our own layers from Geoserver. These will be static layers, but you'll get the idea of how layers are added. We'll also introduce a new wrinkle: adding a layer with SQL parameters.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores geospatial technologies such as GIS, PostGIS, Geoserver, OpenLayers, Postgres, and SQL, which are widely used in industry

Features hands-on labs and exercises, providing a practical approach to learning

Facilitates the creation of interactive web mapping applications, enhancing the learner's practical skills

Provides a comprehensive overview of geospatial technologies, making it suitable for beginners

Requires learners to have access to GIS software, which may not be readily available or accessible for all learners

Assumes some prior knowledge of geospatial concepts, which may not be suitable for complete beginners

Reviews summary

Internet mapping with open-source gis

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in internet mapping using open-source GIS technologies like Geoserver, Postgres, and Openlayers 3. Many found the step-by-step approach and hands-on demonstrations to be highly beneficial for practical application. The instructor is often praised for clarity and making complex topics accessible. However, a significant number of students note that the Openlayers 3 version is outdated, requiring additional effort to adapt to modern environments. Some also faced setup challenges due to older software versions, impacting the seamlessness of the labs.

Instructor effectively clarifies complex GIS concepts.

"The instructor is very clear and made complex topics easy to digest. Highly recommend it if you're looking to build practical skills."

"Finally a course that makes sense of Geoserver and PostGIS integration. The explanations are thorough without being overwhelming."

"The course explains the concepts well, but the setup process was a bit painful."

Builds functional applications through clear, guided steps.

"This course is a goldmine for anyone wanting to get into web mapping with open-source tools. The step-by-step instructions for installing Geoserver and connecting to PostGIS were incredibly helpful."

"Excellent course! It covers all the basics needed to set up a powerful mapping server. The examples are practical and directly applicable."

"I was able to follow along perfectly and build my first web map application by the end."

Learners may face issues with outdated software installations.

"The setup process was a bit painful. I ran into several dependency issues and deprecated commands due to the age of some software versions used in the course."

"I found myself spending a lot of time troubleshooting outdated software versions. The core logic holds, but expect to do your own debugging and version upgrading."

"This course is severely outdated and almost impossible to follow without significant prior knowledge or a lot of external research. The instructions don't match current software versions."

OpenLayers 3 is significantly older than current versions.

"However, the Openlayers 3 examples are quite old now, and I had to do some extra research to adapt them to OL6."

"The biggest drawback for me was the Openlayers 3 version. It works for learning concepts, but it's not what you'd use in production today."

"Very disappointed with how outdated this course is. Openlayers 3 is ancient..."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Internet Mapping with Geoserver, Postgres, and Openlayers 3 with these activities:

Review Web Mapping Theory

Show steps

Refresh your knowledge of basic Web Mapping concepts to ensure you are prepared for this course.

Browse courses on Web Mapping

Show steps

Review key concepts such as WMS, WFS, WCS, and WMTS
Review the basics of spatial analysis and geoprocessing

Practice Installing and Configuring Geoserver

Show steps

Solidify your understanding of Geoserver installation and configuration by completing some hands-on practice.

Browse courses on Server Configuration

Show steps

Set up a test environment for Geoserver
Install and configure Geoserver on your test environment
Configure data sources and layers in Geoserver

Show all two activities

Career center

Learners who complete Internet Mapping with Geoserver, Postgres, and Openlayers 3 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers: