XML, RSS AND THE ROLE OF SYNDICATION IN COMMUNITY CENTERED
CARTOGRAPHY
R.G. Cammack
rcammack@mail.unomaha.edu
This research exams how human readable programming languages such a extensible Markup Language (XML), Really Simple Syndication (RSS) and syndication of information work together to allow the public to become cartographer or a cartographic group. This research will demonstrate how having a human readable and open development environment has create a mapping platform that allow both experts and novices to work together to develop spatial information not available in the past.
By using XML as the language for development, novices are able to read and understand how to develop data that can be used by other to create and view spatial information. One of the characteristics of XML is the ability to transform XML data from XML Schema to another. The transformation process can be stored in and XML Stylesheet (XSL OR XSLT) and posted on a web server that reference by other XML application on demand. The publishing of XSL allow developer to integrate data quickly and consistently so display application can get data that is not formatted correctly converted and used simple and quickly with out additional software or development time.
One specific conversion task that this research exams in detail is the process of converting XML data into RSS data. In this case we will exam how XSL can convert different geography feature into RSS data. Once the XML data is converted into a syndication channel the channel can be used by a data viewing application to see real time information feeds. Some of the most original web mapping application integrates multiply channels of data. These channel of context are mostly thematic content create by individual. By combining the power of XML and RSS online communities can collaborate on the development of thematic information and distribute it quickly.