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General
Access Philosophy
Anyone on the Internet is able to access Atlas and its
search mechanisms. The data on Atlas is freely downloadable.
Atlas
Audience
While anyone can access
Atlas, the intended audience, ie, the targeted Internet
users, for Atlas are GIS users looking for data to employ
in their GIS applications. These GIS users can range
from experienced, well-seasoned GIS users to beginners.
Standards for Access
- The
downloaders work in a similar fashion. A user, who
has learned to use one downloader, can use any of
the others.
- With
one click on the Atlas home page, the user can begin
the process of searching for data.
- If
the user knows in which collection of data to search
such as the 1998 DOQQs or the 1:24,000 DRGs, the user
can get to the appropriate downloader in two clicks
from the home page.
- Metadata,
when available, is downloaded with any data downloaded.
- A
user can "jump" between downloaders without
losing the geographical area of interest.
- Graphics
are kept to a minimum. Atlas users prefer quick access
over flashy graphics especially since Atlas users
are often repeat users of the site.
- The
background color and style changes whenever major
additions in terms of data may been made in order
to quickly alert Atlas users to a change in the website.
- Downloader
nagivation tools have been kept simple. The number
of these tools as been limited to prevent displaying
a bewildering array of tools to a user.
- Atlas
uses frames. Browsers that do not support frames are
not supported.
- Atlas
attempts to make the same capabilities across different
browsers on different operating systems. The Java
applet version of the ActiveX control allows for nonWindows
Internet Explorer users to have the same capabilities
as the Windows Internet Explorer users do.
- CGM
files are kept to under 100Kb in size whenever possible.
In those situations where the CGM file is expected
to go over 100Kb, the user is first warned. This is
to allow users with slow connections the ability to
"opt-out" of downloading files that would
take more time to download through their connections
than they are willing to accept.
- The
CGM file mechanism is the standard on Atlas for displaying
live, interactive maps.
Long
Term Goals for Access
- We
are reviewing the W3C
Level One Guildlines to determine how compliant
Atlas is. The long term goals, ie, goals for the remainder
of 2003, include bringing Atlas into compliance with
some level of these guildlines.
- The
CGM files will be replaced with SVG files or suitable
standard.
- Through
the use of standards of the Open
GIS Consortium, Inc. (OGC), Atlas data will be
available to the GIS applications of users through
more direct mechanisms than the download-and-unzip
process currently employed.
Contacting the Webmaster
If you have any questions about the practices of this
site or your dealings with this web site, you can contact
Farrell Jones, webmaster, at fjones@lsu.edu
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