Manipulation of spatial weights using web services

In this paper we explore the use of state-of-the-art web technologies to facilitate access to advanced spatial analytical software tools. The specific focus is on the development of web services to disseminate advanced algorithms for spatial weights manipulation. The core functionality is contained in an open source library for spatial analysis called PySAL. Among others, this library provides a variety of methods for creating, transforming, and converting spatial weights. Web services using the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) are created to support machine or developer interfaces to those methods via the Internet. We also develop a web application client for direct access to the weights tools via a browser. The system is illustrated with an example use case in which spatial weights operations are applied to epidemiological data for Ohio counties.