An adaptable Web GIS platform for monitoring Port air quality

In recent years, advances in IT technology affects a plethora of sectors such as environmental monitoring and management. Open source web map based Geographic Information Systems (GIS) offer a significant advantage in monitoring and representation for many environmental parameters. Here a WebGIS platform based on OpenLayers is presented that displays a set of environmental parameters using novel techniques such as schematic-color methods and 2D arrays. OpenLayers is an open source web maps development tool for WebGIS client that it is characterized by small size and powerful functionality compared with commercial WebGIS software. The data is derived from a set of environmental stations that have been placed in 2 case study areas, in the Port of Igoumenitsa (Greece). The stations transmit data using MQTT protocol that provides convenience and security in data communication. The data is displayed on the platform via a heatmap and color schemes as well as through a 2D array and it can provide both historical and future data. It is noted that the proposed platform is adaptable to making modifications and expansions such as adding new environmental variables for viewing or adding new stations and case study areas by using configuration files that requires minimal programmable skills.