Abstract

RSS and ATOM feeds are two commonly used syndication formats. An advantage of these formats is their reusability by consumers and producers, particularly map-based interfaces. As many GIS users already know, map-based interfaces provide a unique visualization of spatial relationships that are not otherwise obvious from raw data. These interfaces also offer a way to present vast amounts of information in a small area. By including spatial and other metadata, interfaces have an opportunity to identify relevant information, making them more usable. This presentation will demonstrate the use of RSS, ATOM, and GeoRSS standards in creating a geospatial feed that can be used with map-based and other interfaces. Examples will include feeds from the U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake and Volcano Hazard Programs. The presentation "How to Display Hazards and other Scientific Data Using Google Maps" (Venezky and Fee, this session) provides an example of creating a map-based interface using a geospatial feed.