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Victoria Craig Supervisor: Dr. Michael Francis. “ Developing a Generic Web-based CASE tool to plan a Geographical Information Systems (GIS), using the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) to underpin the Planning Process ”. Aims and Objectives.
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Victoria CraigSupervisor: Dr. Michael Francis “Developing a Generic Web-based CASE tool to plan a Geographical Information Systems (GIS), using the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) to underpin the Planning Process”.
Aims and Objectives • To Develop a web-based CASE tool, to plan and design a GIS, being adaptive and self-learning, for different levels of expertise. • Use SSM (Checkland, 1990) for planning the GIS, in order to serve purposeful action • To define that ‘subjectivist’ approaches can be just as effective as ‘objectivist’ approaches (currently not being used for GIS development); fulfilling a gap.
Research Problem • Companies are using Hard Engineering approaches; • Unaware of soft system approaches • Not willing to train users to use new approaches • Not discovered any tools developed using SSM for GIS development; most users using prepared packages; • SSM has its limitations… • Not developed to deal with technology based Information Systems, therefore incomplete. • Therefore will have to use Interpretative Data Analysis (Dunning-Lewis) and Unified Modelling Language, in order to develop the CASE tool.
Why SSM? Advantages of SSM • Deals with ‘fuzzy’, ill-defined problems; • Involves user perspectives (Weltanschauungen); • Considers room for improvement throughout; • Iterative method, consisting of seven-stages; • Adapts with action research; • Considers two streams of analysis (Cultural and Political); • Breaks down the problem situation (‘Holon’) and models each sub-system;
Why a web-based CASE Tool? • “Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) can be applied to any system or collection tools that help to automate the software-design and development process” (D. H. M. Spector, 2002). • GIS has not yet been constructed using any soft system CASE tools, being one of the aims of this research. • Having access to the tool via the WWW will enable easy access for users, reduce cost, maintenance and so forth.
Achievement so far…. • Literature Review • Previous Projects relating to SSM, GIS and the use of CASE tools • Most GIS development includes prepared packages, few hard engineering tools are available. • SSM teaching tools available, but none for development purposes. • GIS and IS: The difference • “A Geographical Information System (GIS) is a specialised Information System, to fulfil purposeful action within the real world (the system served), by collecting (spatial or non-spatial data), storing and retrieving such data, achieving transformed geographical information, being useful for analysing, monitoring, control and decision-making by users within an organisation, allowing room for improvement for future requirements (system serving)”.
Achievement so far.. • The importance of planning • Other development methodologies incomplete • The elements of SSM that could be used for planning a GIS CASE tool • Situation of Inquiry, Root definition, CATWOE, conceptual modelling. • A new methodology required. • Factors to consider when developing a web-based CASE tool. • Good design principles, effective database design, security issues. • .Net Framework, IDA, Task Oriented Design, Ms Access.
Achievement so far.. Planning the tool.
Further Work • Implementation of planning elements of tool (first three elements) • Elements required for GIS • Location-based services in greater detail • Develop a database for storing and retrieving relevant data.
Thank you Any Questions?
Feedback for naming CASE tool: GISMO ‘Geographical Intelligent System of systeMic creatiOn’