Integrating metadata development, XML, and DBMS search and query techniques in a state of Wisconsin land information system
Nancy Wiegand · 2004
project is to provide full Database Management System type querying over government-produced data in a distributed Web-based information system. Current research focuses on the major issue of integrating and querying heterogeneous statewide data. We are using a semantic approach to achieve interoperability. Internet Querying. We are working in the context of a proposed statewide Web-based information system in Wisconsin [WLIS99]. The Wisconsin Land Information System (WLIS) will allow central access to distributed data sets that remain under local control and reside on local servers across the State. The GIS community was active in promoting the WLIS concept, and much of the data will be geospatial data. Typically, however, geospatial Web sites are limited to searching for geospatial data sets for download. Our first contribution is in promoting to the geospatial community the idea and technology for integrating a query facility over distributed data on the Web (without having the data be resident in a DBMS). That is, we follow and enhance the Niagara Internet XML DBMS approach [NDM+01]. Value Level Data Integration. We are also working on the data integration problem. That is, data sets produced by local units of government tend to be highly heterogeneous. This presents a difficulty when data needs to be compared across jurisdictions as happens, for example, in land use planning efforts. Wisconsin, similar to other states, has passed Smart Growth legislation requiring local communities to