MiraMon Map Reader is a free GIS software that allows to explore geographically-based information which is distributed through Internet or on CD-ROM. Information is released in a compressed format (MMZ) which uses the most advanced data compression algorithms and which can handle MiraMon Maps and any other electronic documents. Maps, in digital format, can be queried by location (by clicking on any location the system will give us information on that specific location) and by attributes (the system can be queried to locate certain geographical element such as a water-treatment plant or a certain phenomenon such as all meteorological stations with a mean temperature below 5 degrees Celsius for the month of January). Maps can also be linked to any other type of information: text documents, spreadsheets, images, graphics, sounds, HTML pages, or even other maps which in turn are linked to another microcosmos of information.
Graphical Information can be raster [1 to 32 bits per pixel, either in integer and real formats, including real colour (24-bits RGB) and intelligently compressed formats] or vector [point, arc/node and polygon, of course with true topology]. Alphanumerical information can be stored in a relational database system [several tables with 1 to many relationships even in the first level (graphical feature to alphanumerical information), which is specially useful, for example, when several measurements in different dates are related to the same point]. This way, the system is ideal for distributing aerial photographs or satellite images, digital elevation models, topographic or thematic vector maps, etc. Even standalone tabular data can be distributed. Raster and vector data can be queried similarly and both by attributes and by location, not forcing the user to learn different approaches for each type of data.
In contrast to other GIS for the Internet, its philosophy is not that of providing a simple screenshot or a small selection of data, but access to the complete data is given. The user can then explore the data, if desired, on the local computer as long as he or she wishes to; the utilisation of the MMZ compressed format allows to spare time and money both to the user (less connection time) and to the provider of information (less server dependency).
The MiraMon Map Reader gives us access to all the information by a single mouse click from any Internet browser (Netscape, IE, etc), though with a product with high functionality such as the complete MiraMon GIS. High quality printing on any size device (printers, plotters) is possible, as well as sending the composition to the clipboard for being pasted in other documents (no rasterization of the information).
Security in the data is warranted by a certification which is included in the compressed files (MMZ format) by the organisation providing the data. MiraMon Map Reader checks for this certification before giving access to the data. As a result, users are sure the data they read are the data the provider announces, and providers are sure their institutional name and the data are preserved; any change in graphical or alphanumerical information by third party results in negative to visualise the data.
Certification is not the only advantage for data providers. Moreover: A/ It is not necessary to export to other formats: the same graphical and alphanumerical database used for your GIS is automatically used to extract the packed files (MMZ) that will be distributed through Internet when requested. B/ It is not necessary to remember which documents are linked to the Geographic Information: when an MMZ file need to be generated, the software explores and encapsulates all the needed directories and documents, regardless they are on local or remote (network) units or computers; even all the documents linked from the alphanumerical databases are included, so text, spreadsheets, sound, photos or any electronic document pointed to from the base to be distributed are automatically included. C/ The same (identical) philosophy can be used on CD support, intranets or Internet.
The MiraMon Map Reader is not only an idea or a prototype: it
has started to run on June 1999, distributing 26 large databases
in the web site of Department of the Environment of the Catalan
Government, in Spain. On 20-October-1999, more than 20000 visitors
have visited and download maps and databases. On 22-October-1999
this web site has received the BCN Möbius award to technical or
scientific multimedia applications; this award means that the
MiraMon Map Reader will participate as the Spain&Portugal finalist
in the International Möbius award in Paris in May 2000.