OL3-GoogleMaps GSoC 2016

Link to OL3-GoogleMaps. This library allows users to add Google Maps layers to an OpenLayers v3 map. To do this, the library replicates the OpenLayers objects to the Google Maps map using the Google Maps API. This makes it very easy for users to use a Google Maps basemap while still working with the OL3 syntax.

The objectives for this summer is to integrate major features to the library such as support for WMS and TMS layers while integrating a few tools that will make future contributions to the library easier for everyone.

Week 1
What did you get done this week?

I spent last week working on a bug on the library where vector layers weren’t appearing anymore. For some reason, our custom layer’s parent didn’t dispatch events when its visibility changed. This week, I made a workaround where I dispatch the visible:change event then I call the parent function. It’s not a very clean fix but it allows me to move forward with the project, until we can find a better way to do it. The easiest part of the WMS layers integration is done. It’s now possible create tiled WMS layers with openlayers, and when a google layer is visible, the library renders the WMS layer on it using Google’s own mapping API.

What do you plan on doing next week?

The plan is to work all week on making single-tile WMS layers work with the library. It will be more complicated as it doesn’t seem like the OpenLayers library offers a public function to generate a WMS url for that kind of layer.

Are you blocked on anything?

I still haven’t found the real reason the custom layer of our library doesn’t dispatch events. It happens only when both OL3 and the library are compiled (using google closure). I’m not really stuck on it since I made a temporary workaround.

Week 2
What did you get done this week?

I added support for Image WMS layers. This means users can now add ImageWMS or TileWMS sources to their OL3 map and display them on a Google Maps layer if they choose to. Since the library uses Google Maps’ own API to render them, there’s no synchronisation issues.

What do you plan on doing next week?

With all the new code added, the LayersHerald class, which manages the link between OL3 layers and their Google Maps version, is getting very large. I want to split it into a different file and class for each layer type. Many different test cases need to be tested for WMS layers, to make sure they work with all WMS servers. Update the library to use OpenLayers v3.16 and fix any issues that might arise when that happens. Release a new version of the library

Are you blocked on anything?

Not this week.

Computing experience
I use Windows 10 at home, but I regularly use Ubuntu 14.04 for work and Mac OS X for school-related projects. I’m comfortable with Git and my favorite programming language is Python, although I often work with other languages such as Javascript and C++.

GIS experience as a user
I have to use some GIS libraries for work such as OpenLayers and PostGIS. I have used software such as QGIS in the past to create and debug maps. In my daily life, I often use online map services since I have a very bad sense of direction.

GIS programming
My part-time job is in a company specialised in GIS, but I have also contributed to open-source projects such as OpenLayers and Handsontable in the past, through pull requests.