When we create custom web maps, we cannot always rely on already developed OWS services. Sometimes, we need to publish our own data regardless of whether it is plotted directly from some measurements or processed from existent data. If we have to process our data before publishing it, we usually do it in a desktop GIS environment. However, one of these environments, called QGIS, is not only capable of advanced geoprocessing, but with a little help, we can export our results directly in the form of a web map using OpenLayers 3.
If you are a GIS person, you might be familiar with QGIS. If this is the case, just install the qgis2web plugin, load the project provided with the code (ch09_qgis.qgs), and skip to the part where we use the plugin to export the layers. If you are not familiar with QGIS, don't worry. Keep reading, and you will be up and running in no time.
Quantum GIS is an open source desktop GIS application. It started slowly, but with enough time and effort...