Simoes, BrunoConti, GiuseppePiffer, StefanoAmicis, Raffaele deDieter W. Fellner and Alexei Sourin and Johannes Behr and Krzysztof Walczak2016-02-162016-02-162009978-1-60558-432-4https://doi.org/10.1145/1559764.1559787Interoperability, interactivity and 3D visualization are three of the most important challenges related to Geographical Information Systems. In the last few years, research on interoperability has evolved from simple exchange of spatial data files, through the establishment of standardized spatial data repositories, to the first initiatives allowing management of semantic aspects of data. Interoperability has been mainly hampered by the need to agree on standards, and to develop appropriate tools and methods. The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) has proposed a number of standards with the intention of promoting interoperability through the use of open services such asWeb Mapping Service (WMS),Web Processing Service (WPS),Web Feature Service (WFS) andWeb Coverage Service (WCS). However, there are a number of open issues regarding interactivity, 3D data visualization, fault tolerance, scalability, server-independent implementation, delayed-time transactions, to name but a few, that clearly reflect the need for further study and discussion. This paper presents a service-oriented architecture in the context of interoperable Web 3D GIS applications, designed to support features such as manipulation, processing and visual analysis of geographical information.CR CategoriesC.2.4 [Network Architecture and Design]Distributed SystemsClient/serverD.2.7 [Software Engineering]DistributionMaintenanceEnhancementPortabilityH.2.8 [Database Management]Database ApplicationsSpatial databases and GISH.3.5 [Information Storage and Retrieval]Online Information ServicesWebbased servicesH.5.2 [Information Interfaces and Presentation (e.g.HCI)]User InterfacesGraphical user interfaces (GUI)H.5.2 [Information Interfaces and Presentation (e.g.HCI)]User InterfacesInteraction styles (e.g.commandsmenusformsdirect manipulation)10.1145/1559764.1559787147-154