Web-Assisted Hosting

Web-Assisted Hosting is our web-based solution for map service and data management. It is intended for people who just want to have their maps online in a short amount of time, who aren't necessarily power users or who don't necessarily have any experience with MapServer.

  • Upload and manage files via FTP or our web interface. Save time by uploading a ZIP file and it will be automagically extracted after it's uploaded.
  • Import shapefiles to PostGIS tables, manage your PostGIS tables, and download PostGIS tables as shapefiles. You can use phpPgAdmin to manage your Postgres/PostGIS database via the web, or connect to your database from any PostGIS-capable software.
  • Use the Mapfile Maker to generate a MapServer mapfile from all of your data sources, without being a MapServer expert.
  • Use the G-Map Maker to overlay your point data sources onto Google Maps.
  • Display your maps in a choice of templates, without any expertise in MapServer and without writing your own templates.
  • For users who are proficient in MapServer, all the usual features are still there: you can upload HTML templates, query templates, and graphics, and edit mapfiles through the web browser, to develop your map-application in the usual fashion.
  • Since it's web-accessible space, you're allowed to upload an entire website, including PHP programs and audio/video content. We're glad to point virtual domains to your directory, too. CGI programs are not allowed, for security.
  • NEW! Your account also includes a MySQL database, which you can access from any software via the Internet, or via our phpMyAdmin installation.
  • NEW! All Assisted Hosting accounts now have a mailbox @hostgis.com You can check your HostGIS email via POP or via our SquirrelMail installation.

The simplicity of Web-Assisted Hosting doesn't lack power, either. Database management enables full web-based management of your PostGIS tables. Editing interfaces allow you to write and edit mapfiles "in the raw." Speed up your map generation with raster overviews, and raster and vector tileindexes, with a single click. Manage and display metadata, and download it in both ESRI XML and FGDC formats. Your PostGIS tables are accessible via any PostGIS-compatible software, including PgArc, JUMP, QGIS, and ESRI's Data Interoperability plugin for ArcGIS.

If you're using our template-based map display system, your map will automatically have a rich set of features. If you have the data, it takes only a minute to set up a brand new map with all of this:

  • search tools for the entire USA: zipcode, city name, address
  • dynamkic links to web-managed metadata for each layer
  • customizable color scheme
  • ability to save a map view and return to it later
  • download a map in PDF format
  • save a map picture, draw on it, and email it

Web-assisted hosting also offers something other GIS-enabled ISPs don't: data. We have a database of PostGIS layers covering all of North America that our web-assisted customers can use, free of charge, to display:

  • state and province polygons
  • water features
  • city points
  • zip code boundaries (USA only)
  • streets (USA only)
  • airports
  • and more...

All this, and the pricing is quite reasonable: only $50 a month, with no setup fee.

Click here to see the software versions installed with the assisted-hosting system.