Infrastructure

• Windows Server 2019
• Internet Information Services (IIS) Versions 10.0
• Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8
• Linux Database Server

Core Technologies

• PostGres 13
• PostGIS 3
• Python 3.9
• MapServer 7.6.3
• OGR 3.3.0
• MapProxy 1.14 (replacement for Tilecache)

3rd Party Software Versions

iShare utilises Open Source software components the majority of which have been upgraded in iShare 6.0.0. A full list of components and their versions is available here.

Technical Benefits

• We have upgraded to these versions in order to ensure long term support for the latest security and bug fixes.
• The latest versions of these core technologies also bring better performance and improved security.
• The MapProxy replacement for Tilecache supports WMTS (Web Map Tile Service) and other more modern mapping technologies and also has greater performance and lower resource usage. It can also easily use existing Tilecache caches. MapProxy is a Python application which can not only cache WMS feeds, but allow us to convert between feed types, for example, WMTS to WMS and vice versa.
• MapServer 7.6 has improved labelling and supports the latest PROJ6 API. There has also been improved SLD support.
• OGR to OGR has support for a number of new drivers for new and emerging technologies.

ol-ishare

ol-ishare is Astun's new modern mapping technology that uses OpenLayers and features:

• iShare Spotlight which is an application that allows a GIS user to configure an interactive map, with layers of your GIS data and publish it in an iFrame embedded in your website or webform.
• iShare Logger which provides a JavaScript map to allow people to locate an asset, fault, or other report based on spatial data. This replaces iShare Logger - Classic.
• ol-ishare SDK for creating embedded iShare Maps.

Automation Testing & Continuous Integration

• As part of our development process for iShare 6.0.0 all changes are automatically built on a central system.
• The build process then runs over 400 API automated integration tests as well as automated UI testing.
• Manual testing is also performed by our dedicated testing team prior to a release.

iShare Studio

• In the Functions dropdown list for Stored Procedure Tasks Studio will no longer show:
  • the -Workflow- and -iShare- entries when the Connection is not related to the iShare database 
  • Trigger Functions
• Fixed issue where Workflow Functions lists were not being repopulated when switching between connections.
• When Data Share is the destination for a Spatial Data Transformation Task, it will not list public schema tables as we strongly advise against populating that with data.
• Corrected SourceConnetion typo in Spatial Data Transformation tasks in WORKFLOW.XML - this is a backwards-incompatible change, meaning that once this file has been saved in V6.0.0 these Tasks will no longer be recognised by earlier versions. There is no user intervention required to make the change and there is no alteration to the use of Studio or the Workflow console app as a result.
• The Spatial Data Transformation Task will now generate an error if the destination is a public schema table in the Data Share database.
• Workflow Stored Procedure Tasks should no longer lose additional parameters when saving when not Data Share.
• Studio now shows a message when renaming a Scheduled Task fails, rather than throwing an exception.
• RSS Data Share Connections should no longer fail when the source is using TLS 1.2 which is not supported by .NET 3.5 as iShare now uses .NET 4.8.
• Added exception handling for the database connection check.
• Data Share can now synchronise to an Access database and CSV using iShare DataSyncConsole.
• Columns containing PostGIS geometries will now show the feature type in the Data Share data preview. E.g. Points will be listed as [ Point(...) ], rather than a string of hexadecimal characters.
• Fixed an issue in Data Share when attempting to sync with a non-Postgres Datasource.
• Data Sources linked from My House now use the specified schema.
• Standard and XML Data Sources require a schema, and will default to Data Share if one isn't set.
• Fixed "Error when fetching functions" message when opening Studio.
• Studio now uses the current version of the Windows Task Scheduler when scheduling Workflow Jobs.
• Corrected the schema for the sequences and added the public schema to any ST_ Postgis functions.
• Ensured that any changes to a Legacy BaseMap URI are saved.
• Fixed issue where the Scales panel for Legacy Base Maps is covered by the High DPI check box.
• Fixed issue where the Web Browser in Studio doesn't finish loading.
• Preset the layer_data to None to avoid Metadata Web Studio failing to load under Python 3 environment.

iShare Core

• Base Maps now support WMTS
• iShare version numbering has changed to match Semantic Versioning (semver.org) guidelines. This means that releases will increment traditionally, rather than skipping every odd version number.
• iShare code has been organised into schemas to allow ease of maintenance, permissions, discoverability.
  
  • Database functions have been moved into an astun schema.
  • iShare SDW functions have been upgraded to V2.0 and include support for Linux (Ubuntu).

iShare Maps

• OpenLayers updated to v2.13.1, the most recent release of OpenLayers 2.
• Ensured that the map loading mask only covers the map and nothing else.
• The new ol-ishare Javascript library can now make use of the user's device location.
• The Map Categories panel should no longer collapse on page load on normal format devices.

My House / My Nearest

• Standard Layers (OGC) are now supported.
• Ensured that the Layer Group Header and Footer appear in the My House Layer Groups.
• Setting the "Use Single MyHouse" now correctly brings back the panel content.
• The self-links have been removed from the Layer Group Headers. This was a hangover from an old panel system and did nothing but hinder accessibility in the most recent versions.
• When deselecting all Panels in My House, no panel data will be displayed. This is a change from v5.8 where deselecting all panels would result in all panels being displayed (and reselected).
• Fix problem with Address search not working when JavaScript disabled

iShare GIS

• Features created, when Feature Editing, now use seven-digit precision.
• The Feature Builder button will now be available after switching to and then from a non-editing profile.
• Stopped the Feature Builder raising a JavaScript error when there are no featureType properties.
• Fix problem with Feature Editing layers where the Layer, MapSource, or the Application Pool name contained the full stop character.
• Added ability for the Information Browser to Export data from all layers simultaneously with a Save All button.
• Fixed the issue where the Print Preview sometimes shows incorrect styling for scale in BaseMaps when using HiDPI Printing.
• Fixed the issue where Thematic configuration in the map could sometime result in non-integer values for fill and stroke opacities.
• Fixed circle radius link issue.

iShare Logger

• The new ol-ishare Javascript library can now make use of the user's device location.

Web Services

• Added checks to validate Thematic point colour, low size and high size.
• Stop passing through GetOWS requests to MapServer with no, or not understood `SERVICE` parameter.
• FILTER parameters should no longer trigger security validation errors. Note: this requires a custom validator to be set in both Web and WebService web.config

 <system.web>
...
    <httpRuntime requestValidationType="Astun.iShareMaps.Web.RequestValidation" />
...
<system.web>

 <system.web>
...
    <httpRuntime requestValidationType="Astun.iShareMaps.WebService.RequestValidation" />
...
<system.web>