Paladin Panoramic System Interfaces

Paladin Panoramic System Interfaces
In an effort to maximize efficiency and utility of our software applications for our clients, Paladin Data Systems employs a wide range of techniques for interfacing with complimentary database systems. Techniques vary from custom data import/export processes to utilizing web services.

Traditional Data Import / Export interfaces:
Paladin’s team of software engineers have experience importing data from SQL Server, Oracle, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel and comma delimited text files through the use of custom data imports. One example of this is an interface between Paladin’s Panoramic software and the State of Washington’s grant management software, PRISM. This interface imports grant information from PRISM via a pre-defined Excel template. In addition, Panoramic allows users to export specific data to a Microsoft Access database or the entire database to SQL Server on a timed basis.

Use of Web Services to promote and consume data:
A significant component of Paladin’s long term strategy to facilitate data sharing and improve overall data accessibility includes the expanded use of web services and data mashups. Web Services offer many benefits over other types of distributed computing architectures including greater interoperability, usability, reusability and ease of deployment.

Two Panoramic deployments currently utilizing web services include the Habitat Work Schedule (HWS) and TRACS. HWS is a statewide system configured to manage salmon recovery for the State of Washington. TRACS is a Federal system for tracking the performance of 14 grant programs for the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife.

HWS interfaces with the grant tracking system, PRISM, using a series of PRISM and Panoramic web service methods. These methods allow PRISM and Panoramic to read, store and exchange data between the two systems. Within the Panoramic application, end-users complete required grant request fields and submit grant requests to PRISM. This submittal process uses a PRISM ‘submit’ web service method. Upon successful validation of the submittal, PRISM returns a unique ID linking the two systems. This successful linking allows end users to view PRISM data within HWS and allows PRISM users to view HWS data. The exchange and viewing of data is achieved through the use of the PRISM and Panoramic web services. This exchanged data includes project and contract details and attachments, both images and documents.

The TRACS implementation of Panoramic makes use of an external web service to mash species related data from large national databases seamlessly into the TRACS site. Web services from Nature Serve Species Inventory System, National Biological Information Infrastructure System and Integrated Taxonomy Information System are consumed and mashed together into the Panoramic TRACS site to allow for unique perspective on species data relative to the TRACS projects which is designed to improve species viability.

Panoramic Connect:
Panoramic represents a set of API’s that promote Panoramic data through a series of highly scalable web services. These services are currently used to promote data to the PRISM system and to power the Panoramic public portals for a variety of customers. These exposed API’s allow for any authorized customer to view their approved data using any technique or system that will allow for reading the Panoramic API’s. These API’s currently promote data from Panoramic and can be established to allow for Panoramic to consume external data, creating a unique interface that any authorized system can interact with outside of the standard Panoramic web site.

Use of Web Services to promote and consume spatial data:
Panoramic Maps technology augments existing ArcGIS Server implementations for organizations that have already invested in enterprise GIS solutions from ESRI by utilizing REST web services. ArcGIS server REST web services can be published to provide data, routing, and geo-processing to Maps. Maps can consume and interact with these services. This approach leverages an existing GIS by enabling GIS departments to manage their data and geo-processing, while making this information available to users that need it in an easily understood format. Data and processes published in the web service are managed by the GIS department allowing them to set standards for symbology, accuracy, and attribute data.