Application Summary

The summary below gives an overview of this application's functions and technical environment. For further information about the application and how to obtain it, use the contact information at the bottom of the page.

Graphical GeoSearch (GGS) is a tool for searching large map holdings that are catalogued in Oracle or other spatially enabled relational database management systems (RDBMS). It complements and works as an extension to industry standard library systems such as the Voyager Integrated Library System (ILS) from Endeavor Information Systems. GGS is a Web-based application that offers two methods of searching:

• A geographical search tool lets users draw a search perimeter on a world map on the computer screen. This method restricts results to maps within the drawn perimeter (a geographical search can also be initiated by typing in the name of a location).
• A non-spatial attribute search allows users to specify values of various non-spatial attributes, such as key word, language, or map scale. Users can use either or both search methods simultaneously.

Search results are displayed graphically as labeled polygons on the map and textually in a list at the bottom of the computer screen.

The current release of GGS (version 2.1) incorporates enhanced functionality that, for example, lets users register for automatic e-mail notification when any of their subscribed queries have been updated or modified in the library database. This version also improves performance across low-bandwidth connections. Users who need to run the same query repeatedly can save the criteria to their GGS database account, thus eliminating the need to re-enter all of the search criteria every time.

There is no limit to the number or complexity of queries that can be saved for and by each user. Query results are shown in a table on the interface, and GGS provides tools to highlight particular map records, or conversely to remove them from the list of results. Query results can be sorted by result fields or by any combination of up to four result fields. These tools save users time by accelerating the process of reviewing the results of a search.