Hi all,
today we are making a preview of our new maps app (also known as GIS) available for testing in the app store.
You can log into the demo system and look for the app called Maps Preview or use this direct link.
You are invited to install and test the Maps Preview app on your own DHIS 2 instance. It can be used alongside the current GIS app. You need to upgrade to DHIS 2.27 before installing. The Maps app is easier to use and supports several new features like data tables and data exports to other GIS applications.
New layers panel
When you enter the app you see the new layers panel to the left. Here you can select between different base maps from OpenStreetMap and Google, and if you have defined some external base maps, they will also show up here. You can add external layers in the Maintenance app.
When you add new layers to your map, they will all show in the left panel - in the same order as they are drawn on the map (base maps at the bottom and then different overlays on top). If you need to reorder the layers you can simply drag and drop them. We have also grouped the functionality together around each layer - so you can see the legend, edit, filter and remove layers in one place.
Adding new layers
Click the “Add layer” button to add new map layers. You are presented with a dialog with all the layer types we provide: events, facilities, thematic, boundaries, population, climate and vegetation. External overlays that you added in the Maintenance app will also show up here. There are no restrictions in the number of layers you can add, if you want to add two event layers and three boundary layers, you can do it. You will still see the old dialogs when you add new layers, but these will also be redesigned before the final release.
Data table
The main new feature of this release is the data table (often named “attribute table” in other GIS programs. It allows you the see the underlying data of your map without switching to pivot tables or event reports. Here you can sort and filter your data and the changes will show instantly on the map. So far the data table is only available for thematic layers, but will later be supported for event, facility and boundary layers as well.
What’s next?
Our first priority is to make DHIS 2.27 dashboards compatible with the new Maps app. This will allow you the create maps in the app, save them as favorites, and see them on your current dashboard. Soon, we will also allow exporting of map data and styles to other GIS applications like QGIS. We plan to release the full version of the new Maps app with DHIS 2.29.
Please use our dev list to provide feedback on the new Maps app. If you want to be notified when we make a new preview version available, please send a note to bjorn@dhis2.org.
best regards,
the DHIS 2 development team
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Lars Helge Øverland
Lead developer, DHIS 2
University of Oslo
Skype: larshelgeoverland
*"HealthInformation Management - Making a World of Difference”