Effective Vector Data Transmission and Visualization Using HTML5
Padraig Corcoran, Peter J. F. MOONEY, Adam C. Winstanley, Michela Bertolotto · Maynooth University ePrints and eTheses Archive (Maynooth University) · 2011
ABSTRACT: In this paper we evaluate the potential of the next major revision of HTML (Hy-pertext Markup Language), that is HTML5, to provide an effective platform for the transmission and visualization of vector based geographical data. Relative to the current version of HTML, HTML 4.01, HTML5 offers an improved platform to perform these tasks through greater inter-operability with existing technologies and the introduction of many new API’s. Visualization of vector data can be achieved using the new methods of inline-SVG and the Canvas API. An anal-ysis of the pros and cons of each method is presented. HTML5 introduces a novel WebSocket API which defines a full-duplex communication channel between client and server. This pro-vides improved data communication both in terms of bandwidth utilization and network latency relative to existing push technologies. To demonstrate the effectiveness of HTML5 for vector data delivery a novel selective progressive transmission methodology is implemented using the WebSocket and Canvas API’s.