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Geog 469 GIS Workshop

Geog 469 GIS Workshop. System Requirements Software and Hardware. Outline. GIS Software Evolution of GIS software Terms related to GIS software Types of GIS software systems GIS software vendors System configurations Classifying system functions Two types of network configuration

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Geog 469 GIS Workshop

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  1. Geog 469GIS Workshop System Requirements Software and Hardware

  2. Outline • GIS Software • Evolution of GIS software • Terms related to GIS software • Types of GIS software systems • GIS software vendors • System configurations • Classifying system functions • Two types of network configuration • Four types of system interface (client/server architectures) • Determining adequate system interface and network configuration

  3. The evolution of GIS software • 1970s~ • Toolbox approach (command line) • 1980s~ • Graphic User Interface (GUI) • Simplify user interaction with a GIS • Customization capability • Creation of GIS applications tailored to the needs of major markets (e.g. government, utilities, military, and environment) • 1990s~ • Distributed GIS • Example: demographic analyst can begin with exploring data through American Fact Finder on the internet, then move on to more complex functions in desktop GIS

  4. The evolution of customization • 1980s ~ 1990s • GIS vendors provides proprietary customization capability (e.g. AML, Avenue) • No standard customization systems existed • Programmers had to learn different macro languages to develop focus applications • 2000 ~ 2010 • Industry-standard programming language like Visual Basic, Python, or Java for customization • Programmers work with software components, and easily assemble them into larger systems

  5. Basic terms for GIS software • Presentation, business logic, data • Client, server • Stand-alone vs. client/server • Thin client vs. thick client • Middleware - application server

  6. Elements of an application • Three key elements of application • Presentation: provide interaction with users • Business logic: perform operations • Data: data management • Application can be functionally divided into • Client: make a request • Server: fulfills the request

  7. Stand-alone GIS vs. Client-server GIS • If the three elements reside in the same machine, the application is called stand-alone • e.g. ArcInfo in the Sherman lab • If the three elements reside in different machines, the application is called client-server • e.g. web browser acts as client remote from the server where data and business logic reside • Can be implemented with different network configurations (e.g. LANs, WANs)

  8. Thin client vs. thick client • Three application elements can be divided into client and server at any point (a to e: a, c, e – components, b, d connections) • System with partitioning point closer to “a” is said to have thin client (i.e., light work load in client) • The system whose partitioning point is closer to e is said to have thick client (i.e., heavy work load in client)

  9. Middleware • For client to communicate with the server, we need translator to link them. • Intermediate connection component is called middleware or application server • e.g. ArcSDE links ArcInfo (client) and DBMS (server) in enterprise-wide GIS

  10. Types of GIS software • Desktop GIS software • Server GIS • Developer/professional GIS • Mobile GIS • Other types of GIS software

  11. Levels of desktop GIS software

  12. Server GIS • GIS runs on a computer server handling concurrent processing requests from a range of networked clients • Lower cost per user • Typical costs range between $ 5k-25k • Examples of implemented system include • Mapquest.com • Realtor.com • Census.gov • e.g. Autodesk MapGuide, ESRI ArcGIS Server, MapInfo MapXtreme

  13. Developer GIS • Component-based software development • Used to build a specific-purpose GIS application • Most of products are built on top of Microsoft’s .Net technology • Typical cost ranges between $ 1k-5k • e.g. Blue Marble Geographics GeoObjects, ESRI ArcGIS Engine, MapInfo MapX

  14. Mobile GIS • GIS software for mobile and personal use on hand-held systems • Based on location positioning technology (GPS) and wireless networking • Typical cost ranges between $400-600 • e.g. Autodesk OnSite, ESRI ArcPad, Intergraph Intelliwhere

  15. Other types of GIS software • Raster analysis • ERDAS IMAGINE, Clark Labs’ Idrisi • $ 500-10K • CAD-based • Autodesk Map 3D, Bentley GeoGraphics • $ 3k – 5k • Middleware • Autodesk GIS Design Server, ESRI ArcSDE, MapInfo SpatialWare • $ 10k – 25k • DBMS • Spatial extension of DBMS servers (e.g. Oracle Spatial)

  16. GIS software vendor • ESRI • Focus on hard-core GIS users • ArcGIS • Intergraph • Began with computer graphic • GeoMedia • Autodesk • CAD-based company • Map 3D • GE Energy • Purchase of UK-based GIS firm Small World (2000) Market share see Figure 7.10 (p. 166) from Longley et al (2005)

  17. GIS software survey 2005 • Commercial products http://www.pobonline.com/POB/Protected/Files/PDF/POB0605-GISsoftwareSurvey.pdf • Open Source products http://www.spatialanalysisonline.com/SoftwareFree.pdf

  18. Classify system functions • Class 1 functions • Functions that have an extremely high frequency of use; your systems heavily relies on them • Must be proven to present, and operationally efficient • Class 2 functions • Functions that are essential and are heavily used • Must be in place and be efficient • Class 3 functions • Least-used functions • Need to be present, but not necessarily efficient This classification will be helpful in making a recommendation of software For example, the software that does not support class X function might be automatically disqualified.

  19. Total function utilization table IPD + MIDL

  20. Two basic network types • Local Area Networks (LAN) • Support high-bandwidth communications over short distances • Provide high-speed access data • Within a building or localized environment • Wide Area Networks (WAN) • Support communications between remote locations • Support lower-bandwidth than LAN • The Internet is a global WAN

  21. Four types of system interface:client-server architectures What does it look like? Which one to choose? How do I choose them? • Central file server with workstation clients • Central DBMS server with workstation clients • Centralized application processing with terminal clients • Web transaction processing with browser or workstation clients

  22. 1. Central file server with workstation clients • Data is retrieved from the server and processed on the workstation • Client contains presentation and business logic (i.e. thick clients) • Server contains data management • Requires the transfer of large amounts of data from the server to the client • High demand for bandwidth • Best deployed over LANs

  23. 2. Central DBMS server with workstation clients • Data is retrieved from the server by the DBMS and map rendering is processed on the workstation • Only the data required to support the client display be transferred because DBMS filters data needed • Reduce demands on the network • Best deployed over LANs

  24. 3. Centralized application processing with terminal clients • Data and application software are both stored and run on servers • Significantly reduces network bandwidth requirements • Will be best deployed over WANs

  25. 4. Web transaction processing with browser or workstation clients • Application software and data files reside on servers • Web browser displays information products via Internet or Intranet (i.e. thin client) • Requires sequential support for a large number of user transactions • Can be best deployed over WANs

  26. Four types of system architecturebased on previous descriptions 1 2 3 4 Thick clients Thin clients Large amount of data transfer Small amount of data transfer Small # users Large # users 1. Central file server with workstation clients 2. Central DBMS server with workstation clients 3. Centralized application processing with terminal clients 4. Web transaction processing with browser or workstation clients

  27. Interface and Communication Technologies • The relation between system interface and network configuration • Data volume • File server or DBMS server? • Level of computing complexity, number of users • Thick client or thin client? Web transaction? • Wait tolerance • Emergency dispatch will require low wait tolerance, and thus demand high bandwidth • Technology life cycle • Organization policies and standards

  28. Review - Typology of GIS Software • Software type • Desktop • Viewer • Mapping • Professional • Server • Developer • Mobile • Middleware… • System architecture • Stand-alone • Client/server • Thick clients {file server, DBMS server} • Thin clients {citrix, web}

  29. Team Discussion Consider your GIS project: • What functions based on frequency of use? • Identify GIS functions needed to create information products as well as to put data into the system (data readiness) • Identify Class 1, 2, 3 functions • Consider GIS software survey • Can you identify software to be disqualified based on class X function requirements? • Recommendations for software suitable for your project • Why make those recommendations?

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