Platform Flexibility

Autodesk MapGuide® software runs best on Microsoft® Windows® operating systems running Microsoft Internet Information Server and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Autodesk® MapGuide Enterprise offers broader support for more operating systems (Windows and Linux), web servers (IIS and Apache), and browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox™, and others).

Single Authoring Tool

Where Autodesk MapGuide gives you tools for processing and publishing different data types, Autodesk MapGuide Studio provides a single developer-friendly authoring environment based on popular web development tools that help you to integrate data and build applications fast.

Programming Flexibility

Autodesk MapGuide applications use script code that calls the Autodesk MapGuide ActiveX® control API (application programming interface) on the client tier. In contrast, MapGuide Enterprise applications are written using PHP, ASP.NET, or Java™ using a new API on the web tier.

Simpler Viewing

Autodesk MapGuide requires developers to choose either the Autodesk MapGuide ActiveX control or Java-based viewing when designing and developing applications. With Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise developers can develop a single application for users performing DWF™-based viewing of vector-based maps or pure raster viewing using AJAX technology.

More Innovation

Based on an active source project, Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise benefits from faster innovation than normal commercial software release cycles, brought about by collaborative software development.

Lower Cost of Ownership

Support for the Linux operating system and Apache web server gives you a choice of platform, which can reduce your ongoing system costs.

Server-Side Processing

Autodesk MapGuide software uses a “thick client” or plug-in on the local computer to display and process spatial information. Although this setup has some advantages, the “server-side” architecture offered by Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise simplifies application development and deployment.

The DWF Advantage

DWF-based viewing in Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise allows easier printing and plotting, as well as support for a “disconnected mode” that makes it easy to take spatial data into the field.

Prettier Maps

Autodesk MapGuide software has some limitations with regard to producing high-quality map output, such as support for only 256 colors. MapGuide Enterprise gives you true color support, greatly improved labeling, and persistence in styling of features from Autodesk Map® 3D.

Easier Data Access

Use of Feature Data Object (FDO)—Autodesk’s latest data connectivity technology—makes accessing remote data sources easier and faster than ever.

Remote Administration

Administration of an Autodesk MapGuide server needs to be done directly on the server itself, often requiring administrators to go to another location or into a cold server room. Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise includes a browser-based tool that allows remote administration of server resources.

Source: Autodesk

About MGE 2008

At 2008 MGE is the first full release that has been re-engineered since the migration of MApGuide to open source. For the end user, transitioning to 2008 obviously depends on how complex the applications are, however, Autodesk has made available a Studio application development product that assures a much simpler migration and application development environment – I recall seeing Studio demo’d at AU 2006 in Orlando where a simple MapGuide authored web service was created in a drag and drop, non-programming scenario – then the resulting application viewed in an AJAX client.

 

 

Some of the Major benefits of MGE 2008:

-          based on MapGuide Open Source

-          a large community of developers and contractors is available

-          simple and fast development and deployment

-          powerful API

-          support for multiple development environment

-          distribute design data internally, via Internet, or via DWF (offline viewing)

-          connect to Oracle and SQL Server DBs

-          Integration with other Autodesk products (Map 3D etc…)

 

New in Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise 2008

-          FDO data access provisioning supporting more data formats

-          Better integration with AutoCAD Map 3D

-          Integration with 3^rd party apps and Google Earth

-          Native support for Google Earth including dynamic generation of KML and KMZ and creation of Google Earth overlays in 3D

-          Enhancements for map rendering, AJAX load times, feature join, and basemap tiling

-          More!

For more about Mapguide see the following:

• Environment Canada Publishes Its Data Online with Autodesk GIS Solutions
• An Open Letter to the MapServer Open Source Web Mapping Community
• Autodesk’s Enterprise Solutions, 2008 - Welcome Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise 2008, TopoBase 2008