[GLLUG] PHP GD Question

[Ex Fed]

Hello Everyone!

We use models to predict the possiblity of a plant disease or pest 
emergence.  This is based upon an algorithm that takes as input hourly 
weather information to include humidity, temperature and precipitation.  It 
requires  seven days of data to calculate this probability.

On a dynamic webpage, I want to display these percentages on the screen with 
a color legend and have the appropriate county on the Michigan Map colored 
corresponding to the statistical probability calculated.  I would like the 
user to be able to select past weeks to see the probability, but the default 
map displayed would show the probability of the past seven days.

Does anybody out there know if it would be feasible to use PHP and GD 
somehow to color in individual counties on a State Map image.   The 
coloration would be determined values that were stored in a Mysql database 
or determined by an algorithm that worked upon the values in a Mysql 
database.  Unfortunately, these are not simple rectangles, arcs, squares, 
the counties are pretty complex shapes.

Or would this be a lot of work that might be accomplished by use of a good 
GIS/mapping package?  Does anybody out there have any experiences with GIS 
with Linux / Mysql acting as a server/datasource, serving up dynamic maps in 
users web browsers?

Appreciate your input,

Lee Duynslager

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