SuperpOSe Text & Symbols
An interoperable OGC-compatible spatial database allows a wide range of client software to share information.
The database can respond to SQL queries using a direct connection from a SQL client, or GIS client software, and also deliver web services such as the OGC standard Web Map Service (WMS) and Web Feature Service (WFS) using a Services Oriented Architecture (SOA), depending on the core database capabilities.
Text and symbols pose particular challenges for interoperability. These features enable people to interpret the meaning of the map, and are critical in making a spatial database acceptable to users.
The only geometry supplied for OS MasterMap text and symbol feature types is an anchor point. There are also attributes for font, size, rotation angle and alignment. Client software applications require this information to be presented in different ways to produce the intended result.
SuperpOSe solves this problem in a unique way. When composing the data it can automatically draw symbols and stroke text. In a similar way it can create an area mosaic or a centroid symbol for areas representing natural environment features, such as marsh, woodland or scree.
This results in precisely positioned lines, stored in the database, which can be drawn by all client software to give maps the same appearance in all applications. All the attributes are retained, including the original anchor point if required.
The symbols and patterns defined in the Ordnance Survey style guide are all available in SuperpOSe. The letters used for text include all the accent marks required for Welsh and Gaelic names.
SuperpOSe comes with functionality out of the box to provide styling support for ArcGIS, MapInfo Professional, Oracle MapViewer and AutoCad.
MapInfo Professional using styles loaded directly into Oracle Locator
ESRI ArcGIS using a style file based on the Legend in Oracle Locator
OGC Web Mapping Service using Styled Layer Descriptor (SLD) files
