GEO-SPADE - A generic google earth-based framework for analyzing and exploring spatio-temporal data

Various frameworks are being developed to support geospatial data processing and exploration. However, these frameworks are insufficient due to their inability to support rapid development and reuse of existing geospatial operations. To cope with the difficulties that arise, more and more Web-based solutions are being implemented incorporating Web services and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)^a standards for data interchange and distributed geo-processing. Although these solutions often target specific problems, they rarely can be extended by a third party. As a result, analysts are frequently required to implement additional software in order to complete their exploration process. In this paper, we present a unified, extensible framework that can solve generic spatio-temporal analysis tasks. Specifically, we present the prototype of a new framework that allows quick hypothesis definition and testing. The proposed framework, which we term GEO-SPADE, uses Google Earth as a primary visualization platform and data interchange system. Pluggable components can easily be integrated into the framework. We demonstrate the feasibility of the GEO-SPADE framework by following the scenario of analysis of travel sequences near Funchal, Madeira Island.