MapServer and GeoServer are the two most popular open-source GIS Servers, each with its own set of pros and cons. MapServer has been around since 1994, while GeoServer was created in 2003 as the result of an open-source initiative funded by the United States National Science Foundation. In this article, we will do some comparisons between MapServer Vs GeoServer.
1. What is MapServer?
MapServer is an Open Source platform for publishing your spatial data and interactive mapping apps to the web. It acts as a geographic rendering engine written in C Language.
It allows you to create geographic image maps. Its initial development took place in 1995 at The University of Minnesota. MapServer was released under MIT License and can run on various platforms like Windows, Linux and macOS.
MapServer can be used by individuals or organizations who need access to specific types of map information, such as GIS professionals and web content writers who want to use maps in their work. The MapServer website provides information on how to install the MapServer software, as well as tutorials on how it can be used in different contexts.
Read More: An Overview of MapServer
2. Pros and Cons of MapServer
Allowing users to access data in a variety of formats, MapServer is a powerful and versatile tool for implementing geospatial data into web applications.
Advantages of MapServer
MapServer is open-source software. This means that companies do not have to pay any licensing fees to utilize the software and its features.
In addition, MapServer saves time by eliminating the need for expensive custom development of mapping components and applications.
MapServer also offers powerful features that are not available in other map-based tools.
For example, it displays maps on almost every device on the market including smartphones, tablets, and PCs. It also supports numerous file formats such as KML (Google Earth), GeoJSON (Google Maps), Shapefile (ESRI), PostGIS, GeoTIFFs, JPEGs, PNGs or GIF.
It is used for developing maps that are dynamic, interactive and can be customized with different colours and labelling.
One of the biggest advantages of Mapserver is that it is fairly easy to use. It also has a lot of libraries that help people create their own map designs with ease.
Disadvantages of MapServer
MapServer has many advantages but it also has a few disadvantages. The downside to this web server is that it does not support WFS-T.
3. What is GeoServer?
GeoServer is a Java-based open source web server that provides access to share a variety of geospatial data. Users can publish and share their data with others and visualize it in different formats, such as maps.
The GeoServer project also includes a web application based on GeoServer which allows users to view data and interact with it in various ways without needing to download raw files.
Read More: Open Source Server : GeoServer Overview
4. Pros and Cons of GeoServer
GeoServer is a type of web server that provides geospatial data management and visualization for designing, developing, and maintaining solutions built on open-source tools. It has both advantages and disadvantages for developers which are listed below:
Advantages of GeoServer
GeoServer can be used to integrate geo-spatial information from different sources. Layers are automatically configured for both WMS (Web Mapping Services) and WFS (Web Feature Service).
GeoServer is open source which means it can be freely downloaded, modified or redistributed without any restrictions.
GeoServer offers a graphical user interface that is intuitive to use and easy to navigate through the system. The whole system can be controlled by the admin utility.
It does support WFS-T and PostGIS, as well as Oracle. GeoServer Support for XML Configuration file and styling through SLD.
Disadvantages of GeoServer
As an open-source web server, the biggest drawback of GeoServer is the lack of support from the backend.
5. Comparison of MapServer Vs GeoServer
Features | MapServer | GeoServer |
WMS | Available | Available |
WFS | Not Support WFS-T | Support For WFS-T |
Project Start | 1994 | 2003 |
Administration | Mapfile generation can be aided by QGIS Software | Web Tool |
Extensibility | PHP Developer | Java Developer |
Cartography | Styles are part of mapfile | SLD |
Services | Service as Mapfile | WMS/WFS/WCS Services, WPS and WMTS available as Extensions. |
Querying | Embedded SQL Query | CQL & OGC Filter |
Platform | Cross-Platform | Cross-Platform |
License | X/MIT | GPL |
Technology | C / C++/CGI | Java, GeoTools |
Supported Data Formats | PostGIS, ArcSDE, SVG, ESRI Shapefiles, MySQL, SpatiaLite | PostGIS, Oracle Spatial, ArcSDE, DB2, MySQL, MongoDB, Shapefiles, GeoTIFF, ECW, MrSID, JPEG200 |
Mapping API | OpenLayers, Leaflet | OpenLayers and Leaflet |
Response Time Performance | 0.4 to 0.6 seconds | 0.6 to 1.3 seconds |
6. Which One Should You Choose?
MapServer and GeoServer are two open-source, web-based mapping and geospatial servers that allow you to visualize geographic data. They both have individual strengths in terms of what they offer.
MapServer is used by institutions such as NASA, while GeoServer is used by some government agencies like the FAO, World Bank and Ordnance Survey. GeoServer has a larger user base and is more popular than MapServer. It has a bigger pool of resources from which to draw inspiration for its maps, features, and data.
Conclusion – MapServer Vs GeoServer
Geoserver is the better choice of the two. It’s because it offers more options and also supports different gis file formats.
These two servers are both very popular among GIS professionals, but MapServer is not as sophisticated as GeoServer. GeoServer has a larger user base, more features and support for more formats.
It’s up to you which one you choose as per your requirements. Please comment whenever you use these web servers for your project.