A Mediator for Biospatial Information Systems

Abstract

This article presents a system to enable access to those Information Systems at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) that are related to Biodiversity and the Environment. The system in question associates existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS’s) as well as standard relational databases in a federation, allows the contents of the individual GIS (or relational databases) to be consulted in a manner transparent to the user, and permits the exports of the underlying systems’ data under the corresponding set of permissions. Our approach is based upon three principles: compliance with international standards, reliance upon Open Source Software in implementation, and usage of servers of proven reliability and robustness. [Article copies are available for purchase from InfoSci-on-Demand.com]