How do I implement and use a WMC?

Using an OGC web map context document (WMC) further separates content from look, feel and functionality. Take, for example, the following OGC web map context document, which displays citizen-monitored observations from the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) program.

Any application supporting OGC web map context documents can provide a view of the WMS layers. Here is as an example viewed through the owsview Viewer.

But what happens if end users are using their own viewer or application for WMS? If their viewer supports OGC WMC, they can use the same document to create a view of the WMS layers. Here is a view of the same OGC WMC in the GeoConnections Discovery Portal WMS viewer.

Here is another view of the same OGC WMC through the Quicklook Swath Browser.

Notice that both of these viewers accept the context within the URL of launching the viewer, via:

"&context=http://geodiscover.cgdi.ca/gdp/contexts/naturewatch.cml”

Another viewer may not provide this functionality, but may provide a pop-up window for a user to input a URL of an OGC WMC. Both approaches are valid, and implementation-specific. There is no standard or specification outlining how a viewer client interface handles OGC WMC at this point in time.

If you create a valid OGC WMC, try placing it on a web server and using the above applications (context=<URL>) to see your OGC WMC in each viewer.