What has been discussed is how people access to data and applications through desktop computers in the office or at home over the Internet or Intranet. Then, how can mobile users access to the same services? This kind of question leads us to discuss mobile GIS which is the main content of this chapter. Mobile GIS refers to the access and use of GIS data and functions through mobile and wireless devices such as mobile laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDA) like Palm Pilots and pocket PC devices, and Web accessible smart phones. This chapter will first describe the general system architecture of mobile and wireless GIS following the discussion of business case for mobile GIS. Then several wireless GIS software products from major vendors will be introduced. The chapter ends with some examples of wireless GIS applications.

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Chapter 9 Mobile GIS

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• WAP (http://www.wapforum.org)
  The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is an open, global specification that empowers mobile users with wireless devices to easily access and interact with information and services instantly. It is designed to enable easy fast delivery of relevant information and services to mobile users. Generally, WAP can be used by handheld digital wireless devices such as mobile phones, pagers, two-way radios, smartphones and communicators -- from low-end to high-end. This page is hosed by Open Mobile Alliance Ltd, which has been established by the consolidation of the WAP Forum and the Open Mobile Architecture Initiative. The WAP Forum, originally founded by Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, and Unwired PlanetWML was formed to create the global wireless protocol specification that works across differing wireless network technology types. The user can access to the overview of the WAP technology, as well as a detailed technical specifications and white papers within this website.
  
  
  

• WML (http://www.oasis-open.org/cover/wap-wml.html)
  WML (Wireless Markup Language) is a markup language based on XML, and is intended for use in specifying content and user interface for narrowband devices, including cellular phones and pagers. The Cover Pages is a comprehensive Web-accessible reference collection supporting the SGML/XML family of (meta) markup language standards and their application. The principal objective in this public access knowledgebase is to promote and enable the use of open, interoperable standards-based solutions which protect digital information and enhance the integrity of communication. This pages is focusing on WML technology. It provides a detailed introduction on the progressive development of WAP and WML and technical papers focusing on WAP, WML and XML. In addition, a bunch of useful link resources have been provided, such as the WML introduction and tutorial.
  
  

• Java J2ME Wireless Toolkit (http://java.sun.com/products/j2mewtoolkit/)
  The JavaTM 2 Platform Micro Edition, (J2METM) Wireless Toolkit is a set of tools that provides application developers with the emulation environment, documentation and examples needed to develop Java technology applications targeted at CLDC/MIDP compliant mobile phones and entry level PDAs. If you are interested, you can download toolkit in different languages and by different servers.
  
  
  

• AutoDesk Onsite (http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/section/0,,702580-123112,00.html )
  AutoDesk® OnSite Enterprise 2 is a software application delivers live, interactive digital design, mapping and database information from a central server to Microsoft® Windows® CE-based mobile computing devices. Through this website, you can collect information of the products generally and particularly specific features of the product.
  
  
  

• ESRI ArcPAD (http://www.esri.com/software/arcpad/index.html)
  ArcPad (version 6) is ESRI's mobile mapping and GIS software, which runs on portable computers like pocket a PC or handheld or tablet PC with the Microsoft Windows CE operating system. ArcPad provides database access, mapping, GIS, and global positioning system (GPS) integration to users out in the field via handheld and mobile devices. Through this website, you can explore the technical features of ArcPad, download ArcPad and ArcPad Scripts to customize your applications.
  
  
  

• Integraph GeoMedia Web Enterprise (http://www.intelliwhere.com/LocationServer.html)
  IntelliWhere LocationServer is a server-based application or software platform that provides spatial information and spatial processing services to any applications or devices that needs spatial information or spatial operation. It allow you to simply search, retrieve, operate on and interact with this array of live interactive information ... and it allows you to do so from devices as simple as an SMS enabled phone, through to a WAP phone, PDA, i-mode device and over the Web. Within this website, you can explore the special features of the IntelliWhere Location Sever, download related technical papers and work through the process through the demos.
  
  
  

• MapInfo MapXend (http://dynamo.mapinfo.com/miproducts/Overview.cfm?
  productid=1065)
  MapInfo® MapXtend® is a developer tool for creating location-based applications running on wireless handheld devices. Applications created with MapXtend give mobile field staff live access to the most updated corporate data on equipment and customers, helping increase efficiency and improve service. You can explore the customer applications to get some ides how it works to suit your own requirement. Specifications let you get deep into the technology.
  
  
  

• Inforpolis Project (http://www.ul.ie/~infopolis/)
  Infopolis 2 (1998 - 2000) is a project partially funded by the European Commission Telematics Application Programme (Transport Sector). The project encompasses several information systems including Public Interactive Terminal, Electronic Bus Stop Display, On-Board Information, At-Home/Office Information, Enquiry Office Terminal and Hand Held Terminal. A complete description of each information system studied in the project and more precisely their role, the origin of the data, and the ergonomic features can be found following the provided hyperlink.

  
  
  
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