Implementing a GIS The design and implementation of a GIS is a process. GIS is mostly a technological innovation.

Acquisition of a GIS centers on technological issues: hardware, software, database management, and other standards The adoption of GIS effectively reorganizes the data and information an organization collects, maintains and uses. Control of information systems tends to increase power of those who control them Implementing a GIS Six-phase process to implement a GIS (from Aronoff) Awareness Development of System Requirements System Evaluation Development of Implementation Plan System Acquisition Operational Phase Implementing a GIS Awareness people within the organization become aware of the GIS technology and the possible benefits for their organization The development of a successful GIS is dependent on proper management participation and supervision The decision to develop a GIS is made incrementally. Implementing a GIS Key decision points: Decision to investigate GIS for the organization Decision to proceed with detailed planning and design of database Decision to acquire the GIS hardware and software Implementing a GIS Initial investigation a feasibility study based on the likelihood that a GIS will be useful and effective Important at this stage identify major participants: Agencies and departments within agencies who represent a majority of the users and will contribute most of the data Implementing a GIS The need for, and use of, a GIS falls into several categories: Maintaining records Responding to inquiries for information Conducting studies and making recommendation to decision-makers Managing facilities and services Implementing a GIS Efficiency and Effectiveness: two areas of benefit from using a GIS
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IMPLEMENTING A GIS Vicki Drake Department of Earth Science Santa Monica College

Existing manual tasks can be done more efficiently by a GIS saving staff time Potential time savings can be derived by measuring the time to respond to a query manually and by GIS Effectiveness benefits are more difficult to measure, since GIS may actually be used to accomplish tasks previously not done manually In general, GIS methods result in better planning, or more effective decision-making Implementing a GIS Development of System Requirements Phase 2 A systematic and formal process is instituted to collect information about the technology and to identify potential users and their needs Implementing a GIS Staffing Requirements for a GIS The implementation plan has defined the group or groups within the organization whose will be responsible for the GIS In general, it is not easily possible to directly expand staff positions to fill the GIS need. There are three areas where expertise is needed: GIS Project Manager Database Administrator GIS Software Analyst Implementing a GIS The single most demanding part of GIS development is building the database. The GIS development cycle starts with the needs assessment where the GIS functions and the geographic data needed are identified The GIS development philosophy states that first, the organization decides what the GIS should do, and then, secondly, decides how the GIS will accomplish each task. Implementing a GIS The Needs Assessment is designed to produce two critical pieces of information: The list of GIS functions needed A master list of geographic data Implementing a GIS Database planning begins with the data life cycle a collective term for: identification of the data in the Needs Assessment inclusion of the data in the data model creation of the metadata collection and entry of the data into the database updating and maintenance of the data record retention according to an established record-retention schedule Implementing a GIS A survey of available data begins once needed data are identified in the Needs Assessment The survey includes the inventory and documentation of: Mapped, tabular and digital data within the organization Data available from other sources: federal, state, local governments and agencies, and private sector organizations Other GIS systems from which needed data may be extracted Any organized data sharing cooperative or other mechanism for data sharing
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Commercial GIS database developers who may supply needed data Implementing a GIS The various data types available for GIS include the following: Mapped data and Map series Attribute Tables and other tabular data Image Data (Remotely sensed images, aerial photography) Scanned images Formats for GIS-usable data include: Hardcopy/readable format Analog image format Digital format Implementing a GIS Detailed database design and planning Developing a logical or physical database based on the prepared data model Evaluating potential data sources Estimating the quantities of geographic data Estimating the cost of building the GIS database Pilot studies tests provide information to estimate size of equipment (disk space, memory allocation, etc.) Determine how much application development will be necessary Plans for staffing, training, equipment acquisition and installation, must be completed Implementing a GIS Pilot Studies or Benchmark Testing demonstrate functionality of the GIS software GIS is not a plug and play type system: Components of GIS must be acquired according to specifications Individual components must be integrated and tested Users must be trained and provided with assistance in use of GIS Implementing a GIS Development of an implementation plan: Acquisition of a GIS system A GIS is more than just hardware and software. A GIS is a complex system with multiple components: hardware, software, people, procedures and data Initially, evaluations of a GIS begin with the software, independent of the hardware. which is selected based on its functionality and performance. Implementing a GIS Functionality the ability of the software to do what is required in a straightforward manner Software should have a reasonably user-friendly GUI The software may also have a programming language to allow for modification or customization of the GIS

Implementing a GIS Performance dependent on two factors: How the software is designed Speed of hardware it is running on

Vicki Drake SMC 2000-2001

GIS software is complex and requires much of the system resources (memory, disk space, etc.) A minimally configured computer will negatively impact the performance of the GIS Implementing a GIS Hardware while GIS software drives the selection for hardware the basic components of any hardware include the following: Operating Systems the software that runs the computer (MS-DOS, UNIX, etc.) Processor the CPU (central processor unit) does the calculations and processes the instructions being sent to it. Processor capability determined by clock speed MegaHertz the cycles per second at which the clock works higher clock speed means faster processing Processor capability also determined by how many bits of information it can acquire at one time. New processors that are 32-bit, can grab 32-bits of information on each cycle Trend is to 64-bits (hampered by lack of 64-bit operating systems) Implementing a GIS Disk The disk or hard drive is used to store operating and application software, as well as storing data and imagery Memory Random Access Memory (RAM) is the temporary storage unit used by the operating system and the application software which is running on the computer Performance is improved with additional RAM, up to a point (each software has a configuration point) Implementing a GIS Benchmarking a System a Benchmark is a process of testing various components of GIS hardware and software, and evaluating their functionality and performance Using a selected number of vendors, the combinations are tested under similar conditions, using a sample data set indicative of the actual data set Implementing a GIS Objectives of a Pilot Study a focused test to prove the utility of a GIS. It is a test of how GIS can be deployed within an organization to improve operations A variety of applications must be selected in order to test the functional capabilities of a GIS and the entire database structure Implementing a GIS The Implementation Plan how the technology, information and personnel will become an operating information system To be successful, all various developmental activities must be appropriately sequenced, along with necessary financial and management support Computer hardware and software are constantly evolving Hardware and software may be purchased before, during or after database development Choice is dependent on organizational resources and needs

Implementing a GIS If the hardware and software are purchased prior to database development, the database can be constructed using the GIS in which it is to operate. If the database is developed before purchasing the hardware and software, it assures the most recent technology is acquired Database development may take up to a year to complete
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Purchasing the system during database development lessens risk of incompatibility between the system and database Implementing a GIS System Acquisition and Start up Review contracts for guarantees, support, system integration, etc. Unexpected problems can occur the pilot studies can assess and identify problems Reduces repetition of mistakes Produces tangible products using system and database Implementing a GIS The Operational System Making effective use of the system indicates sufficient expertise to handle routine tasks and projects systematically. Actively promoting benefits of GIS within organization assures continued support (financial and management) for the system Most important assuming responsibility for the GIS analysis and possible consequences for releasing analysis and information Implementing a GIS Four issues of responsibility (Legal and ethical issues) Accuracy of Content the degree to which the data represent the condition (geographic position, attribute data, etc.) they describe Liability falls onto provider Accuracy of Context the degree to which data from different sources can be combined and presented Provider may be held accountable for reasonably drawn incorrect conclusions based on combined data Implementing a GIS Data Format changing the format of data can significantly alter final analysis Data converted to digital form provides additional information compromising rights of privacy of individuals. Overlay Analysis Operations combining large data sets lowers accuracy levels to the least accurate data set Propagation errors, errors of omission, etc.

Vicki Drake SMC 2000-2001