Best Business Practices for Implementation of Open Source Web Mapping Technology

1. Best Business Practices for Implementation of Open Source Web Mapping Technology September 27th, 2007 Dave McIlhagga President & CEO DM Solutions Group (DMSG)

2. The GeoSpatial Divide IT / Browser Style Broad Consumption Traditional GIS Value occurs when Solutions leverage the power of GIS within the context of web technology delivery -- this is what “Web Mapping” is all about.

3. State of the GeoSpatial UniverseHow did we get here? • Web technologies have been the primary disrupter to how geospatial technologies are used and applied • Traditionally GIS departments have performed all geospatial activities and delivered end-results to ‘users’ as map products, reports, etc.. • Introduction of Web mapping technologies has allowed ‘users’ to engage in this process of geospatial information delivery • The result is a disruption to how geospatial data and information is created, managed, accessed, and distributed

4. Web 2.0 Technologies • Web 2.0 technologies will exponentially increase the impact of the web disrupter to the geospatial industry • Web 2.0 allows desktop-like interactivity in a web browser and is friendly to a distributed services architecture • Not a coincidence that Google Maps became the original poster child for all of Web 2.0

5. Implications of Web 2.0 for GeoSpatial • Users can participate in creation, managing and sharing geospatial information like never before • Role of GIS experts will be changing from the creators and managers to enablers • GIS Experts will perform a more critical ‘Advisory’ role than ‘Map Maker’ • Solutions that don’t incorporate effective web 2.0 technologies will not service end users effectively

6. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Atlas of Canada Atlas National Frameworks Canada Centre for Remote Sensing Canadian Soils Information Service Canadian Coast Guard Canadian Forest Service Canadian Geographic Names Canadian Hydrographic Service Canadian Wildlife Service Cancer Surveillance Cardiovascular Diseases Surveillance Centre for Topographic Information Chronic Diseases Surveillance Defense Research and Development Canada

7. Earth Sciences Sector Environment Canada Fisheries and Oceans Canada FluWatch GeoAccess Program GeoBase GeoConnections Geological Survey of Canada Health Canada International Development Research Centre Landslides and Geotechnics Mapping Services Meteorological Service of Canada Mineral Deposits - Canada National Coal Inventory National Defense

8. National Forest Information Service National Land and Water Information Service Natural Resources Canada Notifiable Diseases Surveillance Office of Public Health Practice Ontario Region Information System for the Environment Pacific Forestry Centre Parks Canada Public Health Agency of Canada Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada Phoenix Program Regional Geophysics Reseau Species at Risk Toporama West Nile Virus Surveillance

15. Why should Web Mapping be Open Source? Web Mapping Technology is NOT a Product

16. What makes this work? • Value is in the Solution, not the Technology • Web Mapping is an empowering tool for solutions delivery • Web Mapping technology has little value in itself • Why impose a barrier to adoption and innovation on something with relatively little real value? • DMSG Motto “Solutions Drive the Technology – Not the other way around” • The Value Gap between End Solution and Technology is ENORMOUS … that leaves room for business to flourish

17. Business Models The Open Source Web Mapping Business Ecosystem • The Caretakers - Horizontal focus, servicing users of open source web mapping technology • The Professionals - Consulting & System Integrators, deliver custom solutions • The Specialists - Vertical / Domain Market specialists, deliver repeatable solutions

18. Canadian Success Stories - Environment Canada • Developed Very Strong Internal Capacity through: • Commercial Training • Involvement in the open source Community • Commercial Support relationship including software Development Services • One staff member is an accepted contributor to the MapServer Software Project • Software Testing begins at the earliest stages of Development • “After resolving all my issues - when you released the software, it was perfect!”

19. Canadian Success Stories - Office of Public Health Practice • Purchase Annual Commercial Support for MapServer for their Infrastructure • Developed Public Health Map Generator with DM Solutions Group • Advanced Operational Application servicing Public Health Professionals across Canada • Application is maintained with software releases -- custom applications are the test cases for upcoming releases • Received Gold Medal at the annual Government Technology show for Innovations in Service Delivery

21. MapServer in the U.S. Government? • MetaCarta • Developers of Geographic Text Search (GTS) Software • Proprietary Software • Heavily Patented Search Mechanisms • GTS Appliances • Homeland Security, Defense, EPA, State and Local Governments, Oil & Gas • Every Map comes from MapServer • Every Map you see is drawn from DM Solutions Group’s Maps for MapServer Product line

22. Rules of Thumb for Adopting Open Source Web Mapping • The Spectrum of Risk • The Spectrum of Stability and Complexity • Web Mapping Know How • Determine what to “buy” and what to “do”

23. Best Practices for adopting Open Source • Adoption of Open Source happens in Many Forms - find the right one for you • Don’t allow Religion to drive your decision - for or against open source • Incorporate an Open Source strategy into your IT Planning • Determine the health of an open source project. • Is there a commercial entity supporting this technology? • Is there anybody else? • Don’t be afraid - be smart, and manage your risks

24. Thank you! Contact Information: Dave McIlhagga Email: dmcilhagga@dmsolutions.ca Phone: 613-565-5056 x15 http://www.dmsolutions.ca