Design of a framework for multi-user/application oriented WebGIS services

In this paper, a framework is presented to provide a new mode for WebGIS services. This framework consists of three layers: User layer, Application layer and WebGIS service layer. User Layer supports users to access WebGIS services via different network environment; application layer represents WebGIS applications constructed by different organizations or companies, which integrate GIS services to solve some domain-oriented problems; WebGIS service layer is the core layer in the framework, which provides different GIS services. Professionals maintain WebGIS service layer unitedly. WebGIS services can be dynamically modified and added, but WebGIS application needn't adjust. If there are no appropriate GIS services in WebGIS service layer, the WebGIS application constructors can order them from WebGIS service layer. WebGIS service layer is a multi-agent system, where WebGIS services are implemented as agents, which can match the use of different users/applications.