Overview

MapLibrary provides a very customizable metadata engine that allows different types of maps or documents to have different metadata associated with them. A simple web-based administration interface allows easy customization of this powerful metadata engine.

MapLibrary includes an extension to ArcGIS that allows GIS specialists to directly post their maps into the library. The extension provides the GIS specialist with the option to archive a vast number of file formats including PDF, JPG, and Postscript over the Intranet to the central repository, and to author metadata about the map in MapLibrary. Much of the metadata is automatically created for the user. This option offers a timesaving alternative to publishing the maps via the browser interface since the maps are posted directly from the local GIS software. MapLibrary also provides a powerful tool for quickly loading large quantities of scanned images or other documents. This Bulk Loader can be used to import both the documents and a custom set of searchable metadata for each drawing.

MapLibrary includes an optional setting whereby the administrator can enforce document approval on an individual user basis. Supervisors can approve a submission thereby making it generally available to searchers. Supervisors can also reject a submission, which sends it back to the archiver to be reworked. These features enable a workflow that ensures supervisor approval is secured before the document can be retrieved from the library.

MapLibrary includes the capability to store frequently used search criteria as pre-defined searches. These pre-defined searches can be made available as links on the home page allowing users to quickly and efficiently view maps and other artifacts. For example, the administrator can create a pre-defined search to enable the users to see the latest version of maps or as-builts being generated for a high profile project.