Introducing LuciadFusion product tiers
LuciadFusion is Luciad’s server product that unlocks your data and data processing and makes it available to your users in the most easy and optimal way. It provides ready-to-use data management, service configuration, and service applications as well as fully configurable and extensible API components. LuciadFusion is built using LuciadLightspeed’s geospatial components.
LuciadFusion is offered in three product tiers: Essential, Advanced, and Pro. Each product tier combines certain capabilities that are designed for typical use cases. You can find an overview of all tiers with included as well as optional capabilities in Table 1, “Overview table of the LuciadFusion product tiers”.
Starting with V2017.0, the components for LuciadFusion have been rationalized, simplified, and separately packaged.
| Functionality | Essential | Advanced | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Core GIS Engine |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Projection, Datum & Geoid models |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Transformation and Projection Engine |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
4D Cartesian & Geodesic Geometry Model |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Unified Data Model |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Customizable Symbology |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
CPU, GPU Image Processing Engine |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Raster Connectors |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Vector Connectors |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Point Clouds & Reality Meshes |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
OGC Standards |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
OGC Services |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Tiled Services |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Tiling Engine |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Symbology Services |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Data Management & Catalog |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Data Crawling & Metadata harvesting |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Extensible Web Service Platform |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Advanced GIS Engine |
✖ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Real-Time Engine |
✖ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Advanced Raster Connectors |
✖ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Database Connectors |
✖ |
O |
✔ |
|
Terrain Analysis Engine |
✖ |
O |
O |
|
Weather & Environment Standards |
✖ |
O |
O |
|
Graph & Routing Engine |
✖ |
O |
O |
|
Radar Connectors |
✖ |
✖ |
O |
|
Aviation Standards |
✖ |
✖ |
O |
|
Defense Standards |
✖ |
✖ |
O |
|
Defense Symbology |
✖ |
✖ |
O |
|
Infrastructure Standards |
✖ |
✖ |
O |
|
Maritime Standards |
✖ |
✖ |
O |
|
S-63 |
✖ |
✖ |
O |
|
✔ = Feature included |
O = Optional |
✖ = Feature unavailable |
About LuciadFusion Essential
LuciadFusion Essential is the first product tier for LuciadFusion, combining all capabilities needed regardless of the application domain you are working in. It defines a strong entry-level product baseline for serving any geospatial data.
About LuciadFusion Advanced
LuciadFusion Advanced is the second product tier for LuciadFusion, targeted towards advanced applications that may require real-time data feeds, specialized data formats and advanced spatial or geospatial calculations. The Advanced product tier combines a broad set of default geospatial capabilities with access to a number of options.
Components of LuciadFusion Advanced
LuciadFusion Advanced offers access to the following components:
About LuciadFusion Pro
LuciadFusion Pro is the third product tier for LuciadFusion, targeted towards very demanding applications, for example in terms of performance, required analytics, or specific data types. The Pro product tier combines a complete set of high-end geospatial capabilities with access to a number of domain-specific options.
Overview of LuciadFusion components
LuciadFusion
LuciadFusion is the Luciad Server solution. Its main elements are LuciadFusion Studio (for easy management and serving of geospatial data), the LuciadFusion Platform, the services hosted by LuciadFusion (including a Tiling Engine) and the Data Connectivity Manager, which is the Tiling Engine Frontend.
LuciadFusion Essential components
OGC Web Server Suite
This is a LuciadFusion Essential component. It offers servers for several Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) protocols. These are standards for querying and manipulating geospatial data based on various spatial and non-spatial constraints.
-
Luciad Web Map Service (WMS) server: implements the OGC web service interface standard for the retrieval of geospatial maps in an image format.
-
Luciad Web Coverage Service (WCS) server: implements the OGC web service interface standard for the retrieval of coverages. Coverages are thematic data collections about phenomena that vary in space, such as demographic or weather information.
-
Luciad Web Feature Service (WFS) server: implements the OGC web service interface standard for the retrieval and manipulation of geospatial features.
-
Luciad Catalog Service for the Web (CSW) server: implements the OGC web service interface standard for the retrieval of metadata records.
Tiling Engine
This component is a LuciadFusion Essential component.
It adds tiling capabilities to your desktop solution. The Tiling Engine allows to process raw data into a hierarchical, tile based structure. This optimizes access to the data, for the purpose of querying, visualization, and analysis. Using the Tiling Engine you benefit from fast processing and efficient storage.
Data Connectivity Manager
This is a ready-to-use application that lets the data specialist take in data from any source and organize it into themes that will be provided to the end-users.
LuciadLightspeed
The LuciadFusion software comprises LuciadLightspeed, an extensive suite of customizable components. Its capabilities include but are not limited to:
-
A hybrid 2D/3D view for easy and rapid development of applications with both 2D and/or 3D functionalities as well as Vertical, Profile, Timeline & Stereo Views
-
4D Geometries with extensive map-centric editing, labeling and styling options
-
Support for hundreds of coordinate reference systems and on-the-fly transformations between them
-
Visual analytics like heat maps and clustering of information
-
The OGC Web server suite, a framework for setting up OGC WM(T)S, WFS, WCS and CSW
This component also provides a set of vector, raster and service connectors. Each of the connectors adds support for an additional format to the product. Some examples of formats included are GeoTIFF, DTED, GML, OGC GeoPackage, Lidar, KML and connectors to Bing Maps as well as OGC WM(T)S, WFS and WCS services.
Bing Maps connector
This component is a LuciadFusion Essential component.
It integrates the Bing Maps imagery service, a web mapping service provided by Microsoft, into LuciadFusion.
More specifically, you can decode a Bing Maps imagery model that can be accessed and visualized as a tileset.
KML
This component is a LuciadFusion Essential component.
It allows you to decode KML data, and visualize it on a map.
LiDAR
This component is a LuciadFusion Essential component.
It allows you to decode and visualize point cloud data in the LASer and E57 formats.
GeoPackage
This component is a LuciadFusion Essential component.
It allows you to decode and visualize OGC GeoPackage files and SQLite SpatiaLite files.
Fusion Client
This component is a LuciadFusion Essential component.
It allows you to connect to LuciadFusion Tile Stores, and visualize the data from LuciadFusion coverages on a map.
LuciadFusion is the geospatial data management product in the Luciad portfolio. LuciadFusion coverages are tile-based data structures, developed for optimal querying, visualization, and analysis of geospatial data. Such coverages can be stored in LuciadFusion Tile Stores.
OGC Web Client Suite
This component is a LuciadFusion Essential component.
LuciadFusion supports the use of OGC web services, and the interaction with data originating from those services
You can set up web clients that connect to several of the OGC web services through the APIs of the OGC Web Client Suite:
-
The OGC Web Map Service (WMS)
-
The OGC Web Coverage Service (WCS)
-
The OGC Web Feature Service (WFS)
-
The OGC Web Map Tile Service (WMTS)
LuciadFusion Advanced and LuciadFusion Pro components
Advanced GIS Engine
This component is a LuciadFusion Advanced and Pro component.
It allows 2D topological calculations on any supported geometry. Those calculations include both binary topology checks and constructive geometry operations (union, difference, intersection). Cartesian, spherical and ellipsoidal implementations are included.
Advanced Raster Connectors
This component is a LuciadFusion Advanced and Pro component.
It bundles a set of raster data connectors. Each of the connectors adds support for an additional format to the product. The following formats are included: ECW, GeoPDF, GeoSPOT (Spatiocartes), MrSID, Spot DIMAP, and Swiss DHM. The GDAL data connector integrates the well-known GDAL raster library and adds support for many common raster formats.
In addition, the JPEG2000 encoder data connector allows exchanging any imagery information or visualization results in the JPEG2000 format.
The panoramic image data connector allows you to load and process panoramic imagery from the E57 and the Leica Pegasus formats. Custom panorama formats can be implemented using the panorama API.
Infrastructure Standards
This component is a LuciadFusion Pro optional component.
It bundles connectors for CAD formats and for the Hexagon Binz format. The DWG data connector adds support for the AutoCAD DWG/DXF format, and the DGN data connector for the Bentley Microstation DGN format.
It also includes a 3D Tiles Processing Engine for the conversion of 3D meshes (in OBJ format) to OGC 3D Tiles data sets.
Database Connectors
This component is a LuciadFusion Advanced optional component and a LuciadFusion Pro component.
It provides support for seamlessly integrating geospatial databases into applications. This integration includes data retrieval, modeling, and persistence into the database. As a result, information from the database can be visualized, edited or serve as input for any analysis.
Graph and Routing Engine
This component is a LuciadFusion Advanced and Pro optional component.
It offers routing and tracing capabilities, based on any network data, independent of the data format/source. It also includes cross-country routing, which can be applied in the absence of any road network information.
When network information is present, cost functions can be flexibly applied to edges and turns. Cost definitions can be based on any available information. Elements like slope, distance, vegetation or even weather conditions or communication coverage can be taken into account via custom cost functions. Large networks can be partitioned for efficient large-scale routing.
In addition the GDF data connector adds support for the GDF format for exchanging road network information.
Real-time Engine
This component is a LuciadFusion Advanced and Pro component.
It supports visualization and replay of radar data, including radar video (Asterix Category 240). For real-time track feeds, a dynamic, continuous label decluttering algorithm is available.
Terrain Analysis Engine
This component is a LuciadFusion Advanced and Pro optional component.
It offers analysis capabilities that can be applied to any elevation data, independent of the data format/source. Explore elevation data by reading out elevation for selected locations, calculating terrain cross-sections, and marking peaks and low points. Support the operator by applying hypsometrical calculation layers emphasizing slope, slope direction, ridges and valleys, and so on. Calculate visual and sensor coverage with Line-of-Sight calculations and view-shed analysis. The API offers full control over propagation and visualization, and includes hardware acceleration for Line-of-Sight calculations.
Weather and Environment Standards
This component is a LuciadFusion Advanced and Pro optional component.
It offers visualization and analysis of weather and climate data offered in the NetCDF, GRIB, and BUFR SIGWX formats. Explore data via filtering and slicing, and simulate historical data and forecasts over time.
Aviation Standards
This component is a LuciadFusion Pro optional component.
It offers extensive modeling and ICAO-compliant visualization of aeronautical data, in a format-independent way. All relevant domain objects are provided, such as airspaces, routes, procedures, aerodromes, and navaids. The Arinc, DAFIF/DAFIFT, and AIXM data connectors are available for specific format support.
Defense Standards
This component is a LuciadFusion Pro optional component.
It bundles a set of connectors to formats described by Defense Standards. Each data connector adds support for an additional format.
The following connectors are included: VPF, NITF/NSIF, ASRP/USRP/ADRG, BCI, and CADRG/CIB.
Defense Symbology
This component is a LuciadFusion Pro optional component.
It allows you to visualize tactical situations and plans compliant with various military symbology standards. MS2525B/C/D, APP-6A/B/C/D, and TTA-106 are supported, both for the visualization of given data and for creation/editing. A rich API allows for customization and configuration where needed. The default implementation is fully compliant.
In addition the NVG data connector adds support for the NVG format for exchanging tactical plans. Using an extensive domain model, data can be read, visualized, edited and written again.
Maritime Standards
This component is a LuciadFusion Pro optional component.
It offers high-performance support for S-57 and UKHO AML data with correct visualization according to the S-52 standard. The API offers much flexibility in filtering the information to be displayed, and supports all required display modes, such as day, night, and dawn.
Guidelines for upgrading from a component version of LuciadFusion to a tiered LuciadFusion version
This section helps users of a component-based LuciadFusion version older than V2017 with their upgrade to a tiered LuciadFusion version.
As always, you can consult the release notes for improvements, fixes and upgrade considerations. In addition, we would like to draw your attention to the following:
Simplified distribution
After downloading the product, you will find only one zip file that conveniently bundles all components you have access to within your tier. Inside the .zip file, you will retrieve the directory structure that you are familiar with from previous LuciadFusion releases.
In addition, there will be one zip file per option that you are licensed to. The zip files for the options have names similar to the option names.
New tier components
Starting with LuciadFusion V2017.0, the LuciadFusion components have been re-distributed into LuciadFusion tiers. Even if you did not have access to these components before, you can now benefit from the rich set of capabilities that they add.
For more information about those components, see the Luciad Developer Platform as well as the developer documentation for all components.
New set of LuciadFusion Essential components
The following LuciadLightspeed components are included by default into the LuciadFusion Essential tier:
LuciadFusion, OGC Web Server Suite, OGC CSW Catalog Server, LuciadLightspeed, OGC Web Client Suite, LuciadFusion Client, Bing Maps, SQLite/OGC GeoPackage, LIDAR decoder and KML decoder.
New set of LuciadFusion Advanced components
The following LuciadFusion components are included by default into LuciadFusion Advanced:
LuciadFusion, OGC Web Server Suite, OGC CSW Catalog Server, LuciadLightspeed, OGC Web Client Suite, LuciadFusion Client, Bing Maps, SQLite/OGC GeoPackage, LIDAR decoder, KML decoder, Geometry Calculations, Real-Time and decoders for ECW, GeoPDF, GeoSPOT (spatiocartes), MrSID, Spot DIMAP, Swiss DHM, GDAL Connector and finally the JPEG2000 encoder.
Furthermore, the Options may offer you a set of components as well. In the next table, we provide the mapping between LuciadFusion Options and LuciadFusion components.
| Advanced Option | Components |
|---|---|
|
Database Connectors |
DB2 Spatial and Geodetic Extender, Informix Spatial Datablade, Informix Geodetic Datablade, Oracle Locator, Oracle Spatial, PostgreSQL, SAP HANA Database Connector (beta) and Microsoft SQL Server Database Connector |
|
Terrain Analysis Engine |
Terrain Elevation Analysis (TEA) |
|
Weather & Environment Standards |
NetCDF ISC, GRIB V1/V2, and BUFR SIGWX weather data |
|
Graph and Routing Engine |
Networking and Route planning and GDF |
New set of LuciadFusion Pro components
The following LuciadFusion components are included by default into LuciadFusion Pro:
-
LuciadFusion, OGC Web Server Suite, OGC CSW Catalog Server, LuciadLightspeed, OGC Web Client Suite, LuciadFusion Client, Bing Maps, SQLite/OGC GeoPackage, LIDAR decoder, KML decoder, Geometry Calculations, Real-Time.
-
Decoders for ECW, GeoPDF, GeoSPOT (spatiocartes), MrSID, Spot DIMAP, Swiss DHM, GDAL Connector and finally the JPEG2000 encoder.
-
Database connectors for DB2 Spatial and Geodetic Extender, Informix Spatial Datablade, Informix Geodetic Datablade, Oracle Locator, Oracle Spatial, PostgreSQL, SAP HANA Database Connector (beta) and Microsoft SQL Server Database Connector.
Furthermore, the Options may offer you a set of components as well. In the next table, we provide the mapping between LuciadFusion Options and LuciadFusion components.
| Pro Option | Components |
|---|---|
|
Terrain Analysis Engine |
Terrain Elevation Analysis (TEA) |
|
Weather and Environment Standards |
NetCDF ISC, GRIB V1/V2, and BUFR SIGWX weather data |
|
Graph and Routing Engine |
Networking and Route planning and GDF |
|
Infrastructure Standards |
AutoCAD DWG, DXF and Microstation DGN |
|
Radar Connectors |
Eurocontrol Asterix and ASDI/ETMS |
|
Aviation Standards |
AIS, AIXM, ARINC 424 and DAFIF and DAFIFT |
|
Defense Standards |
VPF, NITF including JPEG 2000 decoder/NSIF, ASRP/USRP/ADRG, BCI decoder and CADRG/CIB (Note that CADRG is now optional) |
|
Defense Symbology |
MS (APP-6A/APP-6B/MS2525b/MS2525c) and NVG ISC |
|
Maritime Standards |
ECDIS |
|
S-63 |
S-63 |