针对商业WebGIS软件的费用昂贵等问题，本文以开源的MapServer为平台，利用其跨平台、开放的特性以及新增的支持S-57电子海图数据的功能，深入地研究了基于MapFile的海图数据访问、制图表达等关键问题，旨在开发一种低成本、高性能的Web海图服务系统，一方面增加Web电子海图理论和技术的多样性，另一方面希望能够提供低成本的应用方案，更好地促进Web电子海图应用的推广。

In order to develop an open source and cross-platform application to replace costly commercial WebGIS softwares for Web electronic chart service, the paper, based on MapServer and its heart Mapfile, studied the key technologies for data access and cartographic expression of electronic chart data. The research opened up a new way for researching Web electronic chart service, and it would help to reach a low-cost solution for Web electronic chart service and accelerate its popularization in the shipping information field.