CONFIDENTIAL

AP/OCT2010/SUG554

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA FINAL EXAMINATION

COURSE COURSE CODE EXAMINATION TIME

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS II SUG554 OCTOBER 2010 3 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES 1. 2. 3. This question paper consists of five (5) questions. Answer four (4) questions only in the Answer Booklet. Start each answer on a new page. Do not bring any material into the examination room unless permission is given by the invigilator. Please check to make sure that this examination pack consists of: i) ii) the Question Paper an Answer Booklet - provided by the Faculty

DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

This examination paper consists of 3 printed pages
Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

AP/OCT 2010/SUG554

QUESTION 1 a) Software is one of the components that make up a Geographic Information System (GIS). Software programmes are collections of instructions that are used to manipulate digital data in a computer. Discuss the various distribution models that are being utilized to distribute the software to the market. (10 marks) b) The three-tier architecture of GIS software consists of user interfaces, tools and data management. For each of the mentioned parts provide the terms that are commonly used in standard information system terminology. Discuss the roles of each part of the software system. (10 marks) c) Describe why it is sometime appropriate to customise GIS software and discuss why the task is seldom undertaken by the GIS user himself but is carried out by a software developer or programmer. (5 marks)

QUESTION 2 a) An important role for any manager is to build a bridge between policy makers, their goals, and the technical staff. When implementing an enterprise GIS for an organization, it is vital that the manager ensures the importance of existing organizational elements are reflected in its implementation. Discuss the management strategies you would consider to achieve the said objective. (20 marks) b) The cost for developing GIS is significant and it is not easy to get money to fund for its implementation. Suggest a few strategies you could adopt to pay for its development. (5 marks)

QUESTION 3 A needs assessment is generally developed by documenting the ways in which an organization uses information. The goal of this assessment is to define the GIS capabilities and use the information to evaluate alternative systems. Discuss the key tasks a GIS manager would undertake to perform such needs assessment. (25 marks)

Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

AP/OCT 2010/SUG554

QUESTION 4 a) With the aid of diagrams describe and discuss how the user interfaces, tools and data management are configured in the four (4) types of computer system architecture configurations used to build operational GIS implementations below; i) ii) iii) iv) desktop client-server centralized desktop and centralized server (15 marks) b) Building databases from primary and secondary data sources is an expensive operation. Alternatively one can utilize data that has been captured by others. These data can be bought at a cheaper price as compare to the cost of acquiring data from the field. However before one can transfer or import the data into a GIS, there are few issues one may face. Discuss those issues and how the issues can be resolved. (lOmarks)

QUESTION 5 a) Data collection is one of the most time-consuming and expensive GIS tasks. However it is a vital task. The collection of data for GIS project involves a series of sequential stages below: i) ii) iii) iv) v) planning, preparation, digitizing/transfer, editing/improvement and evaluation

Discuss the process involved and the factors that need to be considered in each stage of the data collecting process. (15 marks) b) Data collection for a GIS project can be either carried out intensively over a short period or undertaken in a incremental manner. GIS manager always face the dilemma as to which strategy to pursue. Your advice is required to enable the GIS manager make the right choice. Make him aware about the strength and weakness of each strategy. Remind him the factors that he needs to consider in the data collection process. (10 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA

CONFIDENTIAL