Re - projection Web Service : Challenges and Lessons Submitted to EOGEO

This paper summarizes a prototyping effort pertaining to the design and development of a raster image re-projection web service. The goal of the effort is to identify the complexities of interoperable service design and the feasibility of service chaining in a GIS Web Services architecture. A description of a preliminary web interface and the implementation options considered for the prototype are described. The paper also summarizes the experience of chaining this service with OGC Web Mapping Services. In the process, the paper highlights the difficulties arising from the lack of standards in the areas of projection systems representation and geo-referenced raster imagery encodings. The paper also discusses the limitations of legacy GIS systems in accommodating the requirements of a generic re-projection service. Lessons learned about basic requirements for efficient service chaining are presented in the areas of performance and reliability of services, ease of access to services and their capabilities, and the need for simple solutions.