What are web mapping services and how can I use them?
A map service makes one or more spatial datasets (e.g. roads, land use, aerial photos) available directly over the Internet. Such services can be used by GIS clients on the desktop to display these spatial data as though they were stored locally. This makes the sharing of GIS data much easier and more flexible. Map services can also be used in web applications that display geographic information. Currently DataFinder provides ArcIMS map services (only usable in ESRI GIS applications) and OGC-compliant WMS and WFS. WMS and WFS were originally made possible by an NSDI Grant. To learn more about the map service contents and examples on how to use them, see the DataFinder Catalog and DataFinder Services page.
