Mapwindow vs. arcgis: towards featuring the interoperability between geographic information systems

Abstract

Heterogeneous information systems can make data and process operations by means of a functionality called interoperability. Geographic information system (GIS) interoperability is based on two factors: the increasing use of such systems in companies and the need to supplement their information—when generated in isolation from heterogeneous GISs, leading to coupling troubles. Major initiatives in GIS interoperability solve arising problems by defining sets of standards and by specifying development interfaces. Such initiatives allow interoperability between pairs of homogeneous GISs, which hold the same standards or development interfaces, avoiding GIS heterogeneity. The above reasons lead us to deal, in this paper, with MapWindow-ArcGIS interoperability. We use an example in order to determine the remarking features of such interoperability process.