XML-based communication protocols for WebGIS

Aimed at the features of complex objects and massive data transmission, a new XML-based method to design and implement communication protocols for WebGIS is presented. The paper illustrates the mechanism in designing communication protocols following W3C's XML Schema specification, as well as provides main flow to embed them into WebGIS by packing and parsing XML-based protocols. This kind of protocol can be used in spatial information exchange among heterogeneous platforms of in distributed environment.