QGIS & Open Data

Serving local map data using AWS resources for streaming access to various clients

In Progress

Technologies: QGIS AWS GIS Open Data

QGIS & Open Data

Using AWS resources, I have been successful serving local map data for streaming access to various requesting clients.

Project Overview

This project focuses on leveraging open-source Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to create accessible mapping solutions. By combining QGIS with cloud infrastructure, the goal is to democratize access to geospatial data and analysis tools.

Technologies Used

QGIS: Free and Open Source Geographic Information System
AWS: Cloud infrastructure for hosting and data serving
Open Data: Publicly available geospatial datasets
Web Services: RESTful APIs for data access

Current Status

Phase 1: Core Infrastructure ✅ Completed

AWS EC2 instance deployment and configuration
QGIS Server installation and basic WMS/WFS setup
Apache web server integration with FastCGI
SSL certificate implementation for secure connections

Phase 2: Data Integration 🔄 In Progress

Open Data Sources: Integration with USGS, Census Bureau, and OpenStreetMap
Database Optimization: PostGIS performance tuning for large datasets
API Development: RESTful endpoints for programmatic access
Documentation: Swagger/OpenAPI specification creation

Phase 3: Client Applications 📋 Planned

Web-based mapping interface using Leaflet.js
Mobile application for field data collection
Desktop GIS plugin for direct QGIS integration
Python SDK for developers

Current Metrics

Data Volume: 2.3TB of geospatial datasets served
API Requests: 10,000+ monthly requests
Coverage Area: Continental United States with selected global datasets
Update Frequency: Daily automated synchronization with source APIs

Resources

Future Enhancements

Enhanced API documentation
Client SDK development
Real-time data streaming capabilities
Mobile client applications