GOS Version 2.2 was released on December 10, 2007. Improvements in this version concentrate on new capabilities and visualization in the search tools. These search enhancements apply to both the general search and the Marketplace.
The primary search components are "What" (a text-only search) and "Where" (a geospatial search). These two search elements can be used separately or together. See Search Hints at the end of this document.
Additional search parameters are available in closed windows. Click on the down arrow in each window title bar to open that window and add search parameters. The optional search parameters include:
The footprints of the search results are now shown in a map with the results list. The list results are linked to the map footprints to allow you to easily visualize the coverage area of each dataset. Hover over a search result in the list; the result is highlighted in yellow and its bounding box is shown hatched in the map. Hover over the map and all results in the search list that intersect that point are highlighted in yellow.
Data content types are indicated by icons on the left side of the metadata records.
Access the function menu by putting your mouse cursor over the data content icon. Available functions include:
You can now view metadata either as a text list or as icons. The icon will show the browse graphic if there is one associated with the metadata record, or it will show the content type icon. As with the text list view, the icon view is linked to the map to allow you to easily visualize the coverage area of each dataset.
Use of an international gazetteer allows for spatial searches including place names outside the United States.
GOS now supports viewing Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Mapping Services (WMS) and ESRI ArcIMS Image Services on a globe, using Google Earth or ESRI ArcGIS Explorer. Before services can be viewed on a globe, you must install one of the above-mentioned viewers. For search results that may be viewed on a globe, an option 'Add to Globe' button will appear in the result context menu. From the community page, simply click the 'View in 3-D' button to launch the 3-D viewer appropriate for the type of service. OGC WMS services may be viewed in Google Earth and ESRI ArcGIS Explorer. ESRI ArcIMS Image services may only be viewed in ESRI ArcGIS Explorer.
When you are logged in to GOS as a registered user, you can save your search criteria and elect to be notified when new data meeting your search criteria are entered into the GOS database. The new interface for saving searches (My Searches) is located below the map in the search results page. A specific map extent can also be saved under My Bookmarks.
The marketplace is an important part of the GOS portal. It enables you to develop partnerships for data acquisition and cost sharing. There are two types of metadata records posted in the Marketplace:
When you have a need for acquiring new geospatial data you can search the Marketplace to see if other agencies have a similar interest or need. You can initiate a potential partnership by posting your own data requests or planned acquisitions to the Marketplace. Sign up and log in to GOS to create your own requests or acquisitions, get e-mail notifications, and contact potential partners.
The Marketplace search works the same as the general search described throughout this document. To add your own requests or acquisitions, log in to GOS, go to the Marketplace tab, and click on the New Data window.
The Search consists of a “What” box and a "Where" box. The WHAT box is a text-only search. The WHERE box is a geospatial search. The two search elements can be used together or each one can be used separately. You can put a search term (such as "rivers") in the WHAT box. You can also put a place name in the WHAT box (such as "rivers Florida"). When you use the WHERE box, GOS uses a built-in gazetteer to find the location you entered and restricts the search to metadata records whose bounding boxes fit the spatial search area. You can elect to have GOS restrict the search to features that lay fully within the bounding area or that overlap the bounding area. The "overlapping" search is less restrictive and you should usually try this option first (it is the default option selected when you do a spatial search). You can refine the search by selecting the "Fully within this area" option.
The search result might be very different depending on how you perform your search. For example, using WHAT = "Rivers Florida" will return different results than using WHAT = "Rivers", and WHERE = "Florida". Try your searches several ways.
In the search results page, you have the option to filter the results by data content type.
In the geographic search, you have the capability to search by Place Name, Address, Township, BLM District, Forest Service Region, or Latitude/Longitude.
