By Shahabuddin Amerudin
Software Development Kits (SDKs) and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are essential components for developing GIS software and applications. GIS (Geographic Information System) is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographical data. GIS applications and software are used in various fields, including urban planning, environmental management, agriculture, emergency response, and transportation. In this context, GIS software development has become a crucial aspect of the GIS industry, and SDKs and APIs are essential tools for GIS software and application development.
SDK stands for Software Development Kit, which is a collection of software development tools used to build software applications. GIS SDKs provide developers with a set of tools, libraries, and APIs to develop GIS applications that can leverage the functionality of GIS software. They are used to streamline the software development process and help developers create applications faster and more efficiently.
The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) is one of the most prominent organizations that develop and maintain open standards for geospatial data and services. OGC API Standards provide a set of interfaces for accessing and processing geospatial data. These standards include Web Feature Service (WFS), Web Map Service (WMS), and Web Coverage Service (WCS). The GIS SDKs include tools for GIS data processing, geospatial analysis, and mapping. Some of the popular GIS SDKs include Esri ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, Mapbox SDKs, and Google Maps Platform.
ESRI is one of the leading companies in GIS software development, and they provide various SDKs for developers. The ArcGIS Runtime SDKs are a set of tools that enable developers to build GIS applications for desktop, mobile, and web platforms. The SDKs support multiple programming languages, including Java, .NET, and Qt.
Another popular GIS SDK is the Mapbox SDK, which provides a suite of tools for building custom map-based applications. The Mapbox SDK supports multiple programming languages, including JavaScript, Android, and iOS, making it a versatile option for developers. With Mapbox, developers can create custom maps, geocode and reverse geocode addresses, and add various types of layers to their maps.
Google Maps Platform is another widely used GIS SDK, offering various APIs for web and mobile applications. The Google Maps API provides developers with access to a wide range of geospatial data, including satellite imagery, street-level imagery, and geographic features such as roads and buildings. With Google Maps, developers can create customized maps, add markers and overlays, and integrate location-based services into their applications.
Open source GIS SDKs are also available, such as QGIS, OpenLayers, and Leaflet. QGIS is an open source desktop GIS software that supports a wide range of data formats and provides a variety of geoprocessing tools for data analysis and visualization. OpenLayers and Leaflet are open source web mapping libraries that provide a range of tools for building interactive maps and integrating them into web applications.
API stands for Application Programming Interface, which is a set of rules and protocols used to access a software application or a web-based system. In the context of GIS software, GIS APIs provide developers with access to GIS software functions and services through a defined set of interfaces. Developers can use these interfaces to build their own GIS applications or customize existing ones. Some of the popular GIS APIs include Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) API Standards, Esri ArcGIS Developers API, and Leaflet.
Developers can use GIS SDKs and APIs to customize and integrate GIS applications into their systems. For example, developers can integrate GIS with Building Information Modeling (BIM) to enhance building design and construction, as demonstrated by Bodum et al. (2019). GIS APIs and SDKs can also be used to assess the suitability of industrial land for development, as shown by Zhao et al. (2016), and to analyze geospatial big data and location-based services, as highlighted by Kwan and Lee (2019) and Sun et al. (2019).
In conclusion, GIS SDKs and APIs provide powerful tools for developers to build custom GIS applications and integrate geospatial data into their existing software applications. With the wide range of options available, developers can choose the SDK or API that best fits their needs and programming language of choice. As the field of GIS continues to expand and evolve, so too will the options for GIS software development, making it an exciting area for developers to explore and innovate.
References:
Bodum, L., Huang, H., & Gröger, G. (2019). How to integrate BIM and GIS: a review of current approaches. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 8(3), 145.
ESRI. (n.d.). ArcGIS Developers. Retrieved from https://developers.arcgis.com/
Google. (n.d.). Google Maps Platform. Retrieved from https://developers.google.com/maps
Kwan, M. P., & Lee, J. (2019). Geospatial big data, spatial analysis, and location-based services. Geographical Analysis, 51(2), 123-134.
Leaflet. (n.d.). Leaflet. Retrieved from https://leafletjs.com/
Mapbox. (n.d.). Mapbox SDKs. Retrieved from https://docs.mapbox.com/help/getting-started/mobile-sdk-overview/
OGC. (n.d.). OGC API Standards. Open Geospatial Consortium. Retrieved from https://www.ogc.org/standards/ogcapi
OpenLayers. (n.d.). OpenLayers. Retrieved from https://openlayers.org/
QGIS. (n.d.). QGIS. Retrieved from https://www.qgis.org/
Sun, Q., Li, H., & Wu, W. (2019). GIS and big data: challenges and opportunities. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 33(4), 637-651.
Zhao, P., Lu, Y., Wang, F., Li, L., & Li, W. (2016). A GIS-based approach for assessing the suitability of industrial land for development. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 30(4), 650-665.
Suggestion for Citation: Amerudin, S. (2023). SDK and API for GIS Software and Application Development. [Online] Available at: https://people.utm.my/shahabuddin/?p=6270 (Accessed: 3 April 2023).