Integrated Mobile GISIntegrated Mobile GIS

and Wireless Internet Map Servers for and Wireless Internet Map Servers for Environmental Monitoring and ManagementEnvironmental Monitoring and Management

By Ming-Hsiang Tsou

E-mail: mtsou@mail.sdsu.eduPhone: 619-5940205

Fax: 619-5944938

AAG 2003, New Orleans

The Department of Geography, San Diego State University

Mobile GISMobile GIS• Mobile GIS refers to the

access and use of GIS data and functions through mobile and/or wireless devices.

(Notebooks, PDA, tablet PC, Pocket PC, etc.)

• WHY mobile GIS – Field works: data collection and validation

process, coupled with GPS and wireless communications.

– Real-time update / change– GPS integration.

Environmental Monitoring and Environmental Monitoring and Natural Habitat Managements Natural Habitat Managements

• TASKS:– The adoption of remotely sensed images – The analysis of habitat changes (land cover) – Monitoring multiple plant and animal species across regions.

• PROBLEMS:– Field survey and data acquisition are difficult, time-consuming – Traditional RS and GIS software are very expensive, difficult to use.– Regional program managers and park rangers seldom have the

necessary resources or training to access RS/GIS data – There is a strong need to develop an easy-to-use, inexpensive set

of field survey tools

Internet Map Servers and Internet Map Servers and Wireless Communication Wireless Communication

• WHY Internet Map Server (IMS)?• The storage problems in mobile devices (too small)• Multiple users access • Data Update for multiple users at the same time.

• Internet Map Server Intranet Map Server

• Local access ONLY via Wireless LAN. • (Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi5 broad bandwidths)

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) IP address-based IP address-based (130.191.118.30)(130.191.118.30)

No Internet Connection. Different from cellular phone communication (CDMA, GPRS) Fast Transmission Speed, Good for GIS applications (large size of data/images)

• Wi-Fi (802.11b, 11Mbps, 2.4 Ghz), • Wi-Fi5 (802.11a, 54Mbps, 5GHz). (next 802.11g)

Integrated System Framework Integrated System Framework

(Internet Map Servers, GPS, Wi-Fi, Pocket PC, Vehicle)(Internet Map Servers, GPS, Wi-Fi, Pocket PC, Vehicle)

Internet Map Server on notebook computer with wireless access port.

Field workers: Pocket PC, GPS, and wireless card.

Wi-Fi wireless communication (up to 300 feet)

Autonomous Unit: Autonomous Unit:

Independent, Portable, Reliable Independent, Portable, Reliable

Mobile unit with Portable Battery Mobile unit mounted on a vehicle.

User Scenario:User Scenario:

Environmental Monitoring and ManagementEnvironmental Monitoring and Management

Mission Trail Regional Park (short movie) Mission Trail Regional Park (short movie)

System Implementation System Implementation • Hardware:

• Notebooks (Web Server + ArcIMS)• Pocket PC (Clients + Wi-Fi compact flash card)• GPS (with serial cables to Pocket PC)• Wireless Access Point (Hub)+ Twisted Ethernet

Cable (directly from Server to Hub)

• Software:• Server-side: IIS 5.0 + ArcIMS 4.0• Client-side: ArcPad 6.0, Pocket IExplorer, FTP

• Network Setting:• IP Address NO Domain Name System (DNS)

Evaluate Land Cover Change by ADAR Evaluate Land Cover Change by ADAR Images via Internet Map ServerImages via Internet Map Server

(MTRP BMX site) (MTRP BMX site)

User Scenario Testing (Jan 15, 2003)User Scenario Testing (Jan 15, 2003)

Use GPS and remote sensing data to identify a Use GPS and remote sensing data to identify a new location of invasive plants (pampas grass)new location of invasive plants (pampas grass)

Real-time Report Real-time Report Submission Submission

and Data Upload and Data Upload (from Pocket PC to Server)(from Pocket PC to Server)

Current Limitations and Problems Current Limitations and Problems

• Wireless Technology is changing fast.

• The short range of current commercial WAP

devices (300 – 1000 feet)

• Limited Software Customization Capability (only

user interface customization, no system function level, such as

direct data upload)

• Pocket Internet Explorer (No Java applets capability)

• No Vector-based IMS for Pocket PC

Research Agenda Research Agenda

• Explore other potential GIS applications (virtual

tour guide, homeland security, emergency rescue, etc.)

• Enhance Information Security – Wireless

Communication. (for sensitive data) PDA: Fingerprint ID.

• Data Transmission Efficiency (compression

techniques)

• User Interface Design (Different from Desktop PC)

• Smart Display for different devices (Software Agents)

Possible Applications:Possible Applications:

Police DepartmentPolice Department Emergency RescueEmergency Rescue

Border Patrol Agency Border Patrol Agency Homeland SecurityHomeland Security

High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network

(HPWREN) UCSD-SDSU http://hpwren.ucsd.edu/

Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve

SDSU Campus(Communications Building )

Intelligent Mobile ServicesIntelligent Mobile ServicesSoftware Agents for Mobile GISSoftware Agents for Mobile GIS

• Software Agent help users to access requested data / images from ArcIMS Server (100 GIS layers).

• Software Agents convert the original display setting for Desktop (1024x768) to Pocket PC resolution (300x240).

• Automated Data Conversion / Integration.

Research Project and Web SiteResearch Project and Web SiteHttp://map.sdsu.edu/mobilegis

Thank You

Q & A