INTRODUCTION
Technology is the collection of techniques, skills, methods, and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives. The simplest form of technology however is the development and use of basic tools which have the ability to inject intelligence into an organizations structure. In recent times technology has become the driving force for organizations and those that make use of cutting edge technology are always ahead of their competitors.
Technology however, comes along with a high financial burden which is perhaps the major reason why organizations abstain from it.
City Authorities are now challenged to develop intelligent systems through cutting edge technologies to encourage an urban development initiative which will incorporate ICT in the management of the city’s assets. A smart city initiative will allow city officials to interact directly with the community and the city’s infrastructure and to monitor what is happening in the city, how the city is evolving, and how to enable a better quality of life. Data collected from citizens, processed and analyzed will become the information required and together with the technology will provide keys for tackling inefficiency and transform the city into a Smart Mobility, Smart living, Smart Environment Metropolis.
This however is achievable even with very little financial commitment.
GOALS
The idea is to
1. Implement an Enterprise GIS using open source products to work with other open source products and even commercial products including:
- PostGRES / PostGIS – Enterprise Server
- Quantum GIS – client server
- ArcGIS 10.1 – client server
- Manifold GIS – client server
2. Work in a municipal context
3. Create multiple users
4. Create multiple end user applications
WHAT IS AN ENTERPRISE GIS?
An enterprise GIS is a geographic information system that is integrated through an entire organization so that a large number of users can manage, share and use spatial data and related information to address a variety of needs, including data creation, modification, visualization, analysis and dissemination. Enterprise GIS is also an organization-wide approach to GIS implementation, operation and management. It integrates spatial data and technology across the organization, coupling centralized management with decentralized use.
This mean, Data is centrally stored and managed in an intelligent relational database. Central storage means users can access the data using any software they want (assuming their software plays nice with the central system).
Central management means the rules that govern the GIS can be defined centrally, irrespective of the client software used. In this case,
– only authorized personnel can have access to data.
– authorized personnel are limited to specific data.
Users can access the data simultaneously using any software that they want but the only way they can get to the data is through the gate keeper (an application that gives personnel the right to access data). The back-end can be any of the DBMS’s in the diagram.
There are three different types of GIS architecture that can be employed by an organization.
The Single User GIS architecture is just a PC with a GIS software not connected to any network. Data is typically stored on this PC and all of GIS work is done here.
Multi-user architecture is a network of computers which will encourage file and data sharing among users. In this situation, the data is stored in folders and directories on different computers. This way different GIS users can access the same files but not at the same time. This means if one user is accessing a particular file, other users are prevented from using the same file. The idea is to network computers together and put data on hard drives for users to have access.
Multi-user, client-server architecture is a network of computers with a domain server to regulate the activities of all other personal computers connected to it. Multiple users are connected to a server storing the data and the server also has a database which can be used to manage all the users and those using the internet to access the data.
Most organizations are still running this system because Enterprise platform is very expensive but with the use of some open source applications, a multi-user, client-server distributed enterprise GIS solution can be achieved.
PROPOSITION
A Multi-user, client-server architecture is proposed and comes along with Active Directory configurations to regulate users and groups.
Postgres with PostGIS extension will be the enterprise server hosting the back-end data for the organization. This is where the spatial data will be stored. Additional data like planning scheme, permitting documents will be scanned and stored as well.
A, B and C are different units namely Development Control, Street Addressing, Drawing within the Planning Department of the organization. These units have client applications like manifold.net, QGIS, ArcMap, AutoCAD etc. installed on their computers to access data on the server. Other Departments within the organization like the Management Information Systems (MIS) can also be hooked to the system. Management is done at the server side and the kiosk application will obey the same rules. Other applications like online permitting can be developed to link directly to the server.
Sample Enterprise Application
RULES OF AN ENTERPRISE GIS
1. Constraints: Constraint attributes to meet certain criteria. Definition of a data dictionary where users are not allowed to change entries.
2. Roles: Roles that individual users get to play in working with the Enterprise system. This include how the users see the data and how their access can be controlled.
We can have two containers which are Groups based on type of activity and Users. The database is used to establish all the roles that a group has and users of the system assigned to specific groups based on their activities (job description).
For instance, user Mo is attached to the Assessor group so can only update parcels and view buildings and wetlands. Larry is attached to two groups Assessor and Planner so can update parcels and wetlands but can only view buildings.
3. Views: Are special ways we can look at data allowing the user to see the data in a particular way. A view is simply a query that selects a section of data and makes it available for users without altering the original data. The selected data is stored and treated as a separate layer. If the data should change in the original dataset, the view will always sync with the original data and update itself.
REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ENTERPRISE GIS
1. Domain server
2. Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)
3. Personal Computers
4. Networking (router, cabling etc.)
5. Installations
Domain Server: Antivirus, Active Directory, Postgres / PostGIS
Personal Computers: Antivirus, ArcGIS, QGIS, Autocad etc.
Online Processing
6. Domain Registration & Hosting (speed, disk size, pricing should be taken into
consideration)
7. Internet (speed, band-with, pricing should be considered)
8. Application Development (Online Permitting, Property Identification, Navigation, Routing, Spatial data manipulation).
Developers must liaise with the Department to identify
– Actors: A group of people who gain value by interacting with the system. An actor may also represent a system that is outside of the system and that gains value by interacting with the system.
– Use Cases: Describes a set of interactions between an actor and the system that provides a discrete benefit to the actor.
– Actor-to-use-Case Relationships: Which actors depend on which use cases. All use cases are initiated by at least one actor. In order to initiate a use case, the actor must be associated with it. Once a use case is initiated, it may send notification to other actors or request information from other actors.
– The Details For each use case to determine exactly how the customer uses the system. The emphasis is on the value and the workflow, not on specific solutions.
DATA PREPARATION TOWARDS AN ENTERPRISE GIS
This involves work that must be performed on the spatial data to prepare it for publishing on the internet.
1. Updating of boundaries to represent current changes
2. Geo-Spatial Valuation Roll
3. Development and printing of drawn to scale block maps for distribution of bills.
4. Training of revenue officers on the use of the new block maps.
5. Slicing of data to create views for users
6. Updating of planning schemes.
7. Data collection of important features including Schools, Universities, Filling Stations, Hospitals, Clinics, Open spaces, Churches, Drains, Rivers, etc. to enhance decision making.
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1. FOR CONSULTATION ON THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF AN ENTERPRISE GIS ARCHITECTURE, SEND A REQUEST THROUGH THE ‘CONTACT US’ MENU.
2. FOR CONSULTATION ON THE DESIGN OF A GEO-SPATIAL ADDRESS SYSTEM THAT WOULD FACILITATE THE COMPUTERIZATION AND INTEGRATION OF STREET NAMES AND TOPOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, TO PREPARE DATA FOR AN ENTERPRISE GIS SYSTEM, SEND A REQUEST THROUGH THE ‘CONTACT US’ MENU.
